Who are you really?

"Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" 


James 4:11-12

I stumbled upon these two verses today... and I can't say how true it is. Lately I've been thinking about how people judge each other and I've been very conscious about judging people myself, as it is not my place to judge them. It is quite unfair to just assume someone is a certain characteristic (in this case a bad one) without getting to know them, or asking them where they're coming from. I've also been on the other end of being judged by others, and it is rude, and it makes me feel terrible - especially if I believe that I am not like the way they have perceived me as. But I have also come to learn that it is impossible to please everyone as I would just end up not being happy with myself, or being able to choose what I want. There is a fine line between being considerate, and being a push over. There is also a fine line between judging others and letting someone know they are wrong. Life is all about balance, and not judging others is one of the harder things that I am trying to be more aware of. There is a story and explanation behind every action, every word spoken, and every thought. Mis-communication is another thing that can make things messy. A nerdy English joke that a high school teacher once told me is this: When you assume, you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me". I don't swear, but I thought it was pretty true/punny.