I hope I am posting this in the correct forum, as it is related to my parenting somewhat.

Last night was my daughter's 8th grade awards ceremony. I realized that it's officially over on the last day of school. She is no longer in Jr. High and is entering into a new level in her life. Maturity for her has been a struggle, but for her most things come easy. An early foundation in Christ has been the very stronghold to keep her together. I had her in a small private christian school where we attended church since kindergarten. Due to unforseen circumstances, we ended up moving and she went from a small christian school that had prayer, chapel, bible classes daily and weekly to a large public school. I was so scared for her. At any rate, she has been in and out of trouble here and there for the past 3 years, nothing too serious, and to be expected to be faced with all the peer pressure but she is learning how to walk the walk in today's world.

I have to tell on myself today because my heart was pounced once again by the Holy Spirit on a judgement I made, and had to even repent to my daughter.

When we got to the awards, I was watching each of the students coming in to take a seat before the show started. I thought to myself, wow, there is so much potential here and I pray that all these children will fall in the arms of God at some point in their life. But--- then... a student, the only one who stood out amoungst them all. This girl for sure was making a statement, but how loud was not yet revealed.
I couldn't take my eyes off of her because of her hair! Her dress was a little too "gothy" for my liking, but it was a cute black dress I suppose. But her hair! It looked like she took a handful of the back of her head, pulled it out as far as it would go, sprayed it with hairspray and blow dryed it to stick out. No joke, it looked like she had just woke up and didn't brush it at all. It even looked a little teased as well. I for some reason couldn't help but look at this odd style.
She was the only one who had black eye liner thicker than a thin pinstrip down the side of a car... I was shocked that she was allowed to wear her hair to such an event.

I tell you all that to paint a picture of my minds eye. My first, second and third... well, no, ALL my thoughts were going crazy. I thought to myself, MY child will NOT attend an awards ceremony or even go to a semiformal event looking like that! She must be a trouble maker. What are her parents thinking?!??!!

OOPS!~

At the end of the awards ceremony, the principal said they had one last award that was not announced would take place but that they would like to publicly honor. The award was for straight A students all through out the school year. Guess who was called up to receive such an award... Yes, you guessed it! It was freaky haired girl!!!

I was shocked. I felt my heart tugged from a judgement that I passed. Quite honestly, I felt so stupid in the meaning of the word!

I talked to my daughter afterwards on our way home and told her I was sorry for telling her not to hang around a girl like that. I then explained to her the judgement I passed without judging righteously. I had to clarify that it was not ok for her to surround herself with gothy people who walked in rebellion or unchristian behaviors, but that this girl was a perfect example of not judging a book by it's cover...

good how God will point out a problem in us, so it can be recognised and fixed. It is true man does judge by the flesh.
It's a good lesson. thank you for sharing.