When I was little and tried to blame someone else for my poor choice, my mom would say, “When you point your finger at somebody else, there are three fingers pointing back at you.” (Yes, I checked my hand to see if she was right.) (Yes, she was.) We’re very good at finding fault. It’s so easy to see someone else’s shortcomings. Maybe we even elevate ourselves by thinking, “Well, I’m not that bad.” What we’re really doing when we have those thoughts is judging the other person. This kind of judgment is the opposite of mercy. When we look at people who seem irredeemable, do we have compassion toward them? In Matthew 7, Jesus tells us we will be judged in the manner we judge others. I don’t want God to deal harshly with me, seeing only the negative things I do. Looking with compassion and mercy doesn’t come naturally, but when we ask God to let us see others with His eyes, it makes a difference. It blooms mercy in our hearts, which triumphs over judgment. In turn, it brings blessing to others, and to ourselves.