Walking in another man's combat boots.

For Valentines Day we had a date night after the baby went to sleep. Before we watched our free Redbox movie, I was talking with Caleb over some homemade beef wellington, asparagus, and a single red candle.

We chatted for a while about life and passions and dreams. I made the remark to him that I didn't really know what his true passions were... and I inquired about them. After some thought, he listed a few things--traveling, fishing, family... but seemed somewhat lost. I told him that I sometimes felt bad because it seemed like he hadn't found his true passion or calling.

He responded by saying something that I will probably never fully comprehend, and I'll certainly never forget. "I had a passion," he said, "But it was taken away from me". Then he asked me to imagine how I would feel if tomorrow I woke up and had no hands. I've spent my entire life learning and the last 5 years studying the art of chiropractic--which entirely requires the use of my hands. If tomorrow I woke up and had no hands... well, I've thought about it for a while now and I honestly can't even finish that sentence. I can't fathom it.

And it hit me... that's how he feels (or more accurately, felt). He had a passion, a drive, a mission. Something that he was incredibly talented at and seemed to be the most perfect thing for him. And then in one instant on a dusty road in the middle of Afghanistan, his life was forever changed.

I realized that there was so much I didn't know about the man sitting next to me, and sharing his life with me. I realized that I can never, ever, possibly comprehend all that he has been through. And all the silly arguments we have and the little flaws that I choose to focus on suddenly flooded my mind and all I could think about was What right do I have to EVER judge this man???

And somewhere along the line it occurred to me that if I feel this way about my own spouse--the man who has shared every part of my life for the past 3+ years--how on earth could I ever begin to judge someone I don't know?!? It's not right. It's not my place.

But I know I do it daily.

My prayer today is that I stop judging others, because I've never walked a day in their shoes.
May this be even more true with my husband... because God knows I've never, and couldn't have, walked in his combat boots.