One week ago, Bo and I were in Vegas walking past the Sahara hotel where a mom was sitting on the sidewalk with her child and as each person walked by, she would whip out her Ritz cracker cardboard sign and nudge her child to yell out to tourists in broken English, "Sir, please. Help, sir."
One night ago, Bo and I were walking down 3rd street in downtown Fort Worth, where a large congregation of individuals were preaching the gospel to the passer-bys. As we walked by, scripture fliers were emphatically shoved in our face, then judgementally snatched back when we politely declined. A young boy, maybe 14 or 15 years old, stepped out into the path of traffic declaring each person who walked by a "heathen" for not taking the scriptures and living a righteous life, without the slightest concern or knowledge of each person's spiritual position. Fiercely judging each person who walked by, while who I presume was a parent behind him, encouraged the judgement. At least there better be a parent behind a 14 year old kid who is on the streets at 11:30 PM.
I started thinking. Which is worse? The parent who is teaching their kid that sponging off the world is the only way to survive - no dignity, pride or determination? Or the parent who believes they are affording their child every opportunity, influencing their life with God's word, yet teaching them to cast judgement and a mind-set of superiority on everyone? Or am I right because I intend to teach my children to work hard for what they want life to give them in return, God's love is extended to everyone and should be shared through your actions in a non-judgemental, compassionate manner?
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