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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Rev Carolyn Skinner

Good morning.

Over the coming weeks homes & pubs around the globe will be filled with armchair critics as football fans watching the Euros have their say over referee decisions, missed penalties and debatable fouls! Most of this is light-hearted banter which comes from a place of passion. And the fans are equally expressive in their celebration when their team does well!

And yet so often in life it's easy to shout advice from the sidelines. We can readily assume the role of a self-appointed judge. It can be easy to look at others in life and state how we would do things differently, to jump to conclusions. It鈥檚 much harder, however, when you are in the thick of things, trying to do your best. So often people are carrying struggles that we know nothing about.

As a society, we are quick to criticise but slow to praise. Research has shown that we remember the sting of criticism more powerfully than we remember the joy of praise.

What a difference it would make if we chose to redress the balance and think twice before we pass judgement. We all make mistakes and no-one wants to be judged on how they perform on their worst day.

Jesus taught how easy it is to see the fault in others whilst being blind to the faults within ourselves. It is an encouragement to remember that it is not our role to judge.

As we watch the play unfold on the pitch over the coming weeks let鈥檚 be mindful of the power of our words and use them to build people up not bring them down.

Loving God, help me to love more and judge less, to be quick to offer grace, encouragement and understanding.

Amen

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