When a stranger is in need, very few of us bother to ask, ”Where did this person come from? Who is he? Or she? Who are this kid’s parents? What good has this individual done for me lately?”
For example, let’s say a child runs out into the middle of a street in front of a car and a stranger happens to be close enough to do something. Most likely, the stranger will run, grab the child, and pull him out of the car’s path. Or when a house is on fire, people often look to see how they can assist, even before the firefighters arrive.
So why is it when someone close to us needs our support, time, care, or forgiveness, we are often so reluctant to give it? We calculate, we say, “Does he or she deserve it? What has she done for me lately? Will he be able to repay me in kind?”
We think like this because we are human and we judge. We naturally see what is wrong with others, even our loved ones, sooner than we see what is right with them.
Today, remember that when we dole out judgment in our life—specifically judgment of others—then we will be judged ourselves because, like water in a pool, whatever we push out into the universe will eventually come back to us in equal measure.