Misplaced Judgment

This week, Lord,
like last week,
I'll likely meet someone new.
Someone who doesn't know,
or even care to know--
You.

They might see my daughters--
covered up
and conspicuous
in their joy,
in their care,
in their respect for their elders.

They might notice
the clock and conjecture
by our presence,
that we are homeschoolers.
And they might make the leap
and presume that we
follow You.

They might not be able
to help themselves,
and for reasons unknown
but to You,
they will throw up that wall
that protests the judgment
that they ascribe to me and mine.

Has someone hurt them badly--
in Your name?
Has someone cast them aside--
for Your sake?

In that moment, Lord,
help me.

Let me not stay silent
and allow that root of contempt
be sown between
two of Your creatures
on yet opposite sides
of Your glorious grace.

Give me words, Lord.

Let me be like You were
with the woman at the well
when You made her feel validated
and showed her, her worth to You.

Let me also make inquiries,
or give compliments,
or simply speak about the weather...

Give me words to say
to the one who would decide
that Your people
are filled with
contempt
and bitterness
and judgment
and hate.

Show me how, Lord.
Show me how to express Your love
to a world that doesn't know how to accept it--
in a world where others
have tragically misrepresented it.

Show me how to do my part, Lord,
trusting You all the while to accomplish
what is Yours.