Of course, you know me…I immediately said, “What…a standing ovation even before she sings?” But I had to eat my words, because a pretty young blonde came forward, and began telling how she had beat cancer, and could sing again. She even mentioned that she had hair again, not the blonde wig she had worn for so long. Then she sang a beautiful song titled, “It Won’t Rain Always.”

Yes, I asked God to forgive me. How often do we jump to conclusions! The Bible is clear that we’re not to judge…except that we can judge other Christians if they’re clearly sinning (I Cor. 5:12-13) and Saints will judge the world (I Cor 6:2) and we will judge angels (I Cor 6:3). And we’d better judge ourselves, as I did after finding out the truth about the girl on the Gaither program.

But when it comes to finding fault and putting down folks, even in our thoughts, have a care. The Bible also says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matt 7:1) and the harder we judge others, then we’ll be judged just as harshly by God on Judgment Day. And the Bible also is clear that if we don’t forgive others, God will not…can not…forgive us. That one sentence is enough to put us on track.

One other thought, though. I have a “Thorntonism” in which I wonder that “It may be that God will judge us, not for our weaknesses, but for our strengths.” Could it be? Because, no matter how we try to be good at all times, and in all situations, we often fail. Will our strengths…faith in God and, as I say in one of my poems, “tying a knot in the end of the rope, then hanging on” to never give up our belief in Him, will keep us?

Cheer up. God is in charge, and I believe He understands that we’re only human.