Romney Stonecatchers Judging

Brooke Romney (I Like Me Anyway) attended her grandmother's funeral.  Her uncle said he remembered a time when he was excited to share some juicy gossip with his mom.  When he told her the gossip, her response was "People who live in glass houses don't throw stones."    He tried to repeat the gossip--this was great gossip.  She simply repeated her previous statement.  She taught him not to gossip or judge others.

In the book Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson says we need to do more than just not throw stones...we need to be stone catchers.  We need to stand up for and protect the vulnerable.  

Brooke Romney shared several examples of stonecatchers.  Her grandma, obviously, was one.

One day Romney was at Target with her young son.  He was melting down.  She was trying to stay calm and calm him down while also holding her infant.  A woman walked over and said, "I love how you speak so kindly to your children even when they are giving you a hard time.  You are a wonderful mother."  She had been on the verge of losing it, but this woman was a stone catcher.

A friend, Jessica, delivered her 6th baby.  Her 3rd grade son had just been diagnosed with ADHD.  The friend was overwhelmed and exhausted.  The teacher didn't question why she wasn't more involved at school or why she had another child when she was so busy.  The teacher tutored and taught the little boy and helped him make progress.

She gives hints of how to be a stone catcher:

Share your struggles openly.

Put an arm around someone who is struggling. 

Be genuinely glad that the rowdy child or surly teenager is at church even if he/she doesn't seem to be taking anything in.   

Include others.

Notice who is standing/sitting alone and talk to them.

Welcome the stranger.  

See others through God's eyes.

LESSONS LEARNED:  Be a stonecatcher.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.  And since that isn't me...don't cast a stone!

LOVE...LOVE everyone and let your love be seen and felt!