'Dangerous Men'

The first person one must learn to love is oneself. If you do not love yourself, and by that is meant respect and esteem for your own self, you will not be able to love anyone else.

I'm reminded of this story I recently came across in this book I'm reading...

Tears glistened in the eyes of Salvation Army officer Shaw as he looked at the three men before him. Shaw was a medical missionary who had just arrived in India.
It was the turn of the century, and the Salvation Army was taking over the care of the leper colony.

But these three lepers had manacles and fetters binding their hands and feet, cutting the diseased flesh. Captain Shaw turned to the guard and said, 'Please unfasten the chains'.

'It isn't safe,' the guard replied. 'These men are dangerous criminals as well as lepers.'
'I'll be responsible. They're suffering enough,' Captain Shaw said, as he put out his hand and took the keys. Then he knelt on the ground, tenderly removed the shackles and treated their bleeding ankles.

About two weeks later Captain Shaw had his first misgivings about freeing the criminals. He has to make an overnight trip and dreaded leaving his wife and child alone.

But his wife was also a Salvation Army officer whose life was dedicated to God. She insisted that she was not afraid.

The next morning when she went to her front door, she was startled to see the three criminals lying at her door steps.

One of them explained, "We know doctor go. We stay here so no harm come to you".

So this is how 'dangerous men' responded to an act of love.

So my thought of today: Never judge someone you don't know, then you will never give yourself time and opportunity to learn to love them'.