I mean, really! It's winter. It dumbfounds me to see people, especially kids, without coats, in sandals, and sometimes shorts. Where are the parents? What would happen if there was car trouble? I took the kids to the store this morning and I saw them. Sure enough, snowflakes. It was light but unmistakeable. As the kids tumbled out of the van there was not a coat to be seen. To my credit (or discredit) no one was wearing short-sleeves(which means Jed wasn't with us),two of us had zip-up sweatshirts with hoods (only one wore the hood), and only one was in sock feet and he could ride in the cart. We could have loaded up and traveled the thirteen miles home and gotten the missing coats, scarves, shoes, etc. or I could use the opportunity to teach my youngest five the Southern principle, "If you hurry quick enough you can make it from most parking lots to stores, churches, movie theatres, malls, etc. without proper winter attire". I do pride myself on making sure the kids have a well-rounded education. None of us were majorly harmed and of course they got the "we really should have worn our coats" speech. So, the next time I see bare legs or arms running into the store and the tempertures haven't been above freezing in days or weeks, I will try not to be quick to judge. Perhaps, they, too, are learning a much needed lesson. Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." I fully expect to hear someday during an interview after a polar plunge, "It all started that Saturday morning Mom took us to Wal-Mart."
