One of my childhood memories is of my sister and me going grocery shopping with our mother.   It was a weekly outing that we hated (not much fun for an 9 year old and a 6 year old).  However, if you knew my younger sister Donna, then you would know that even at age 6, she would ultimately come up with some way to amuse herself (and get us into trouble).   Donna suggested that we should hide on the bottom shelf in one of the aisles.  We watched people's feet as they strolled by with their carts, and we'd laugh at the funny looking, busted, and ran-over shoes that the shoppers wore.   It wasn't very nice, but it was funny.  

Let's talk about People Watchers a.k.a. the "Hater's Club".   Some people firmly argue that you can tell a lot about a person just by looking at them, but that its not true; you can only know a person through "relationship" be it business, casual, or personal.

Women in particular are very good for "eyeing" each other.  We are very observant of one another; when it comes to checking someone out, we don't miss anything.  We check out a sister's dress, make-up, shoes, hair weave, manicure, pedicure, dress size, car, career, educational background, her Christian lifestyle and Her MAN!   We appraise, and analyze a person, and then we articulate our assessed opinion based on our perceived perception of a person we've rarely spoken to.   It's Wrong, but we do it far too often.  We do it on the job; at social functions; and we do it in the Church.  We will look at someone with carnal eye's trying to be spiritual, and claiming to be able to discern another person's value, his or her mood, or emotional state of mind.  It's a Hater's Club with a membership that's Open and Revolving.  It offers a lifetime membership with free, unlimited guest passes.   Everyone and anyone is eligible for inclusion in this Sinful Society of Suspect Sisters.  Don't join, Don't visit, Don't invite others. 

I've worked in the fashion industry for many years, and I've discovered that a woman's visual capabilities are a lot like that of a camera lens.  We have impeccable visual shutter speed.  We conjure up a mental image in our mind's eye, and then process that image in the dark room of our loathsome hatred within microseconds.  We take these distorted images and then share them with other Hater's in the club.  Why? 

We never stop to think about the scars we inflict on the person we talk about,  as well as the danger we impose on the person we talk to.  When you paint ugly images in another person's mind that image is hard to erase, and can damage your perception of someone that God may want to use to be a blessing in your life.  Be careful of how you portray others, ultimately it will reveal the true reflection of You.   

If we say that we're sisters in Christ, we are saying that the tie of Christ intimately connects us.  We are connected because we are our Fathers likeness and by virtue of the fact that we hear and we do the word of God (Luke 8:21).  Don't lay on the bottom shelf, childishly ridiculing others, live in the likeness of your Father and love one another with the heart of Christ.

Be Encouraged,

Tricia

copyright 2005 Tricia Gibson for www.glasshouseministries.org  All Rights Reserved