A lesson I am learning all the time!

I complain! A LOT! And I can be full of judgement. VERY! So, when occasions happen that leave me learning a lesson, I feel the need to share and apologize. I am trying to hear the words coming out of my mouth a little more clearly before I actually speak them! "About time" some may say, "Why now?" some may rightfully ask. Last Friday there was an officer involved shooting here in Austin, and the officer in question has been labeled a murderer by the conspiracy folks, the over active activists, and probably by many well meaning folks like much like you or me. And it's OK to be well meaning, in fact, that should actually prevent any such judgement from happening, because, if we are being honest with ourselves, passing judgement over strangers is not actually very well meaning at all. In fact, I think many, let's just call them, folks, claim well meaning much like southerner's claim they want your heart blessed. We mean that well, we think we know stuff and we want you to agree, or maybe we think your tea is not sweet enough. The thing is, the officer involved has a family. And now his children are hearing and reading that their dad is a murderer. And these people saying this about their dad, have no idea what the truth is. But that doesn't stop them from screaming it out. Words have meaning. I know I have said that before!!! They do, and murderer, that's a no takesey backsey word if ever there was one. I am not saying it's devastating that a man was killed, I would rather no one had guns or ever got shot, or raped, or mugged, or caught a cold. But, that's not the point! The point isn't even that Detective Trey is a good person, with a hugely generous spirit. It's that we don't know the details of what was probably a devastating moment in his life as well. And we don't know the details of a lot of devastating moments in a lot of lives. So before we call someone a murderer, or a bitch, or a junkie, or a bad dresser, we should stop and think what it would mean to our children if they heard someone talk about us that way. I will forget this lesson over and over again, and I will be more angry with myself each time I remember it again; words have meaning, chose yours carefully! Also, I have no idea what a semi colon is for.