2064) In all the years I’ve been teaching, I am often astonished by things my young scholars say.

Sometimes they’re humorous, but there are other times when they’re insightful. For example, one day, many years ago, I had to continually tell the class there was to be no talking but throughout this time; I was continually making comments (not within a lesson).

A boy turned and looked at me and said, why are you talking when we are told not to? I looked at him and nodded my head. He was right.  

This example is a reflection of Matthew 7:3. Jesus tells us here to not point out the speck of dust in someone’s eye without removing the board of wood from our own.  

This truth Jesus taught isn’t just limited to spiritual things. It’s always good to check that we aren’t doing the same thing we are criticizing.

Wouldn’t this give our instructions or thoughts a softer landing place in others if we have taken an inventory of ourselves first?