Not the headline you were expecting to read today was it? If the thought of it makes you cringe or boil with hatred, this word is for you.
Today while standing in aisle 6 of our local Wal-Mart, in heavy impatience waiting to purchase my milk and Chef Boyardee, I stumbled across The National Enquirer and a title that was in capital, bold lettering on the front of the magazine. The Most Hated Woman in America. Behind these words was a picture of a notorious Casey Anthony, with dark circles surrounding her big blue eyes and a droopy smile coming from her long, oval-shaped face. I am not quite sure I fully understand why the media must be so harsh and so cruel. I know that for now, because she has been declared not guilty for ending her precious daughter, Caylee's life, that she is well-hated and is much more in danger living in public than she would be in a cold, dark cell. But why must it be proclaimed that she is hated on the front page of almost every other magazine, in newspapers, on television, on the radio--when she is already facing enough harassment and negativity as is? I am in no way, shape, or form saying that I don't believe she killed her own child, but I am also not saying that I think she did. That is definitely not my place to say or judge, and I'm glad it's not. I believe in justice and leaving decisions such as these up to the judicial system, because I really have NO IDEA at all. There should be consequences and punishment for actions such as these, however they should not come from vigilantes, literally or metaphorically. Jesus even told us to obey the laws of the land.
I'll just say this--I can't imagine carrying the burden of sitting in that jury, not having an idea whether or not this sinful act did take place by Caylee's mother. Let me get to an important point. Like I said, I don't know, nor ever will know, if she is guilty or not. This just doesn't boil down to Casey. This goes for all people who in which the world places judgement upon. It's not our place to do so, unless we are a legal judge or juror. There is one person--one Almighty who knows the truth and HE will make the final judgement. That's Jesus Christ. While thinking on it, I am almost sure He is looking at the world with sadness in His heart, seeing how His people are treating this woman. A sin is a sin is a sin in God's eyes-so the hatred that is spewed at her is just as bad as the potential homicide. We are supposed to show LOVE and COMPASSION... NOT animosity and condemnation. Those are evil and are not at all what Jesus came to teach us. We need to go about these situations with an open heart. Yes-she does need to be told that she needs to accept her sin (whether it be murder or any sin for that matter) and go to the Cross for forgiveness.--Like we ALL need to do. That is the only way to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
God gave His one and only Son for ALL our sins and for ALL of us! Not just some! At times I feel sorry for her because of what she is facing in the world. Whether guilty or not, writing headlines and calling her names like The Most Hated Woman in America is unacceptable, horrible, and something that I would never want to see my picture behind. I asked myself this question: "How would I feel if I saw this on a book stand in regards to myself?" I then wonder if people truly know what they are saying and the effect it could leave on someone. I have been praying for her, along with all the others who are dealing with this sort of thing, and my heart slowly begins to break. Tonight my prayers go out to all who suffer from harassment and abuse such as this. Under any circumstance-deserved or undeserved, Relient K reminds us with the lyrics, "the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair", that Jesus showed love to people who in His day should have served a death penalty. I'll end it with this: If we all showed Christ's love more instead of this junk that is swimming through the air like pollution, everything would work so much better. I don't get why it's so difficult to do so, though. And I desperately need a can of that Chef Boyardee now.
Wow. This entire scenario reminds me of the time Christ stopped the crowds from stoning an adulterous woman, found in John 8:1-11. She had been caught in the act, literally still in bed sleeping with a man other than her husband. There is no more hardcore evidence in any trial than the evidence that was against her. She was drug out into the street to be stoned and the judges asked Christ what should be done. With all the proof (much more than in Casey's case I should add) Jesus found a way to draw out everyone's hidden internal convictions and then uttered the famous words, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." Jesus, the saviour, the infallible one, let.. her... walk. He showed love to this woman who, by the law, deserved death. If we are to be like Him, we should do the same. To Casey Anthony I would quote Christ and say, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" Since released her obvious answer, "No." Our reply to the judgement of the judicial system should be the same as Christ's, "Neither do I, go and sin no more."
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