136 Comments
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Barbara Ashburn's avatar

Today is the second year I have awakened to my wedding anniversary without my husband and I haven't eaten yet since I have to run to the doctor's office to get bloodwork done, BUT, THIS HAS MADE MY DAY! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

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Ann's avatar

I am sorry for your loss! Know that you will be in my prayers today! God bless!

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Jonathan Brownson's avatar

“Judging a person doesn’t define who they are. It defines who you are.” (Matthew 7:1-modern paraphrase)

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Gale Smith's avatar

Nobody does a story like this better than Sean Dietrich. This is why we love him and tell everyone we know about him. This is why he is among our favorite authors. He is ours, he tells our stories.

He teaches more in a single column than you might learn in years of classrooms.

Thank you, Sean!

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Anne Arthur's avatar

I second that wholeheartedly.

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Patricia Hunnicutt's avatar

Indeed! You are so right!

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Ernie in River City's avatar

I don't know which emoji represents gobsmacked, but that's what I need. What a perfect story. So glad that young preacher got to hear it while he was young. Will change his preaching and counseling for the rest of his life. Thank you.

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Vickifermia's avatar

Great story. Interesting that “the church” was worried about her soul but no one went to visit her. Hmmm

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Joy B's avatar

That is quite a sobering observation

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Cindy Gallop's avatar

We are all a work in progress! Judging others is often told to those when conversation appears that the heart is not in the right place. Ministering to others is not an easy task……I feel for both in this life’s story. One is a young girl facing a terminal illness, the visitor, a pastor trying to help but not leaning on his own heart’s conviction. Instead he is sharing thoughts which have been instructed to him by others. The pastor becomes the one who is redirected. I believe he walked away with a renewed heart’s condition!

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Susie S's avatar

Let's hope so. Iif he had come into my room asking all those questions I would have had to politely ask him to leave. LOL

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Laura's avatar

A very wise friend once told me... Saying something about someone else reveals more about the person speaking than it does about who they are speaking about.

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Julie's avatar

This is one of those stories that is like touching an electrified fence. It gives you the shocking realization that perhaps your mind and heart need a change of direction and that God is always there. We are not to judge, but to love. I needed this story today!

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don ortolano's avatar

We often put ritual over relationship, don’t we? Jesus wants a relationship with us…… Come to me, He says.

We should do that.

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JD Britnell's avatar

Sean, Is this supposed to be a true story?? If not, how in the world do you come up with a story line like this? I think you must know God pretty well yourself to have such a beautiful story come out of thin air. True or not, it still brought me to the brink of tears! Thank you for using your God given talents to bless us every stinking day! Again let me say I love you like family my friend and I sure hope to meet you and hug your neck someday!

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Sy Anne's avatar

It’s a parable.

It illustrates a lesson he wants to share, but instead of preaching it, he makes it into a story.

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Susie S's avatar

A lot of his stories are parables. When I read a lot of these comments, it makes me wish for more critical thinking classes to be taught in school. Starting in the first grade and all the way through Senior High, all age appropriate, of course. I said, critical thinking classes, NOT critical race theory.

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Ingrid Wright's avatar

Blessed are those who accept him so innocently without the need for pomp, rules, and repetitive prayer. Those are the truly blessed and saved.

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Dayle Rogers's avatar

Not only did this bring tears to my eyes, but the sadness of judgement, much I’m so good at, limits how I see people. This young girl had such a wonderfully open and honest relationship with the Lord. No judgment. No caring about appearances. Just loving Jesus. It’s so easy to judge when we THINK someone is so different that they don’t understand. But allowing God to love through us? That’s the challenge and joy.

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James Yancey's avatar

Wooh… that story will make some people think about their perception of God. Another beautiful story!

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Cheryl Chastain's avatar

Once again, bullseye.

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Ron Mahn's avatar

Would that we pastors could hear, with such clarity, God’s heart consistently.

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Rivkah Cohen's avatar

Somedays I think it is easier to judge than breathe....

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