"A PROUD LOOK"

These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: "a proud look" (Proverbs 6:16-17a).

My devotional reading spoke about a new girl entering into her new classroom. As she entered she couldn't help but notice that all of the other students were wearing the latest fashions, the newest hairstyles with beautiful accessories such as designer purses and backpacks. She lowered her head in embarrassment, and found her

seat, but not before noticing the whispers and snickers from those who thought they were "above her".

She tried to control her emotions, but before she could do anything about it, tears came streaming down her face. She turned away to avoid further embarrassment, and that's when she heard a welcoming sound, a friendly voice.

Attitudes can be as damaging as physical blows, sometimes worse because a physical blow will only hurt for a short time where as "rotten attitudes" can have long term effects, sometime lasting a life-time.

God loves us. We are His creation, but that doesn't stop Him from dispising how we act, or what we say to others, as well as when we treat others badly, who are His creation also.

Matthew 22: 37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

That passage above tells us that those two commandments so important, because they embody all of the others. If we will follow those first two, then all of the other eight will fall right in place. For example, if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we won't make fun of them because they don't have rich parents. We might even offer to buy them a new outfit. Better yet, accept them as they are, and take up for them when others come at them with Satan's fiery darts of bad attitudes or as my Precious Pastor likes to put it, "Stinkin' Thinkin'. LOL!

If we would all think before we act. I mean turn the tables on ourselves. Put ourselves in the "new girl's" shoes, we might all learn something. Even if it wasn't a "new student" but just a less fortunate youngster who's parents couldn't afford designer this and that.

I wish students would put their best feet forward in this kind of situation and realize how they sound. Who knows the way the economy is, their parents might be out of a job someday and it will be them, who is on the receiving end of stares, snickers and gossip.

I really felt for this young girl, because I've been there. I can say I know exactly how she felt. I have never understood how children or teens could be so cruel. Yes, I know we use "peer pressure as an "excuse", but when it comes down to it, if children or teens had their priorities straight, meaning that what a person wears, the kind of car they drive, or what neighborhood they live in and the "shape of their house, doesn't matter. It's what's in their hearts that count.

I literally HATED school. I loved learning, but I hated school for that reason. I had to contend with kids just like those "snobby" ones above. That, believe it or not followed me all of my life. I've had people tell me to "buck up" , to get over it, to grow up. I haven't held any grudges, and I have forgiven them, but those attitudes left deep scars.

I truly believe that is one reason God does hates a "proud look". NONE of us have the right to think or act like we are any better than anyone else, because God created us ALL. We are ALL sinners.

Well, this is one of those posts that I feel like I could go on and on, so I will stop here, while hopefully I still have your attention. I don't know who invented the "L" on the forehead for "loser", but they should be flogged! In my book the only ones who are losers are the people who do that to others.

Have you checked your kids' priorities lately? What are they like? Are they friendly to kids of all walks of life, or just those who are in the same "financial circle" as they are? Are they friendly to all, or do they act standoffish toward certain ones?

Good Night to All and May God Bless!