God knows I mean well

Through out my life I've attended many church wards. There was one where we had the tightest ward I've ever heard of.  And there was one where literally only two people in the whole ward knew I existed. There were wards I attended where everyone kept in their shells and None cared about anyone else,  And there's been family wards that when a member had a need the whole ward comes a running.
 I've been on the receiving end of Sunday school harassment,  And on the receiving end of Christ like service when I really needed somebody. So I've seen the good and the bad and I continue to attend church regularly.  Why?  Because I believe it.  I believe in God and i go there for him. The most recent ward I've been in I've Developed an even deeper love and sympathy for those that are unfaIrly judged.  My experiences in the ward have been the following:
shortly after my husband got laid off a sister from the ward called and asked if I would provide a meal for a family in the ward that was in need. The first thought that went through my mind was "we have no money", but I knew if they were calling it was because there was a need.  I scrambled through our freezer and food storage hoping for something.  Tacos.  We could make tacos.  We had a few 99 cent tortillas in the fridge and a can of tvp in food storage. It was simple but that's what we had. Either that or pancakes. Just pancakes.  Since I didn't want to bring a family in need a Tupperware of dry pancakes, tacos was my only choice. A few hours later I got a call from the sister that had been assigned to provide the meal with me.  I didn't know I would be working with someone.  When she asked what we should provide I told her I could bring taco filling and tortillas.  She was very rude towards me on the phone when she told me how inconsiderate I was to plan the meal without her.  "You've planned everything on your own what am I supposed to bring?!" She snapped at me over the phone.  I tried to explain that I was using stuff I already had but shedidn't seem to be listening.  She then declared that she would make cornbread on her own and drop it off separate from me.
She didn't know.  She didn't know how scared I was after my husband lost his job our how I'd be penny pinching for 7 long months to make sure that our savings would stretch to cover rent.  She didn't know.  She didn't know that for a month I'd be using my sad little bag of pancake mix to make bread products to avoid grocery shopping cause we couldn't afford it. She didn't know.
Fast forward to today. I sat in the cry room of the church so I could listen to sacrament. I look like I rolled out of bed wearing tennis shoes with my dress because I have my work clothes underneath because immediately after sacrament I have work.  I've selected to attend sacrament in the cry room for the past two Sundays because none will notice or judge me when I have to leave early. The only people around me are a few little kids making a mess with cheerios and a few elderly couples.  They see that I have gloves on my hands and a pair of work goggles hanging from the collar of my dress.  Kids don't care and the elderly know why I'm leaving.  What about the rest of the congregation? I don't know.  I don't know if they know.  I doubt they know how long me and my husband prayed and fasted to get the jobs we have. Nor do they know how many interviews we went to in search of employment.  But I know that God knows.  He knows how bad I want to stay for the 3 hr block.  And he knows that our savings ran out a month ago.  I'm a lot less concerned what others think of my appearance or choices. I know that God knows.
I didn't write this blog entry for sympathy, or pity but more with the hope that we can give people the benefit of the doubt more often.  And if anyone ever sees me at church feel free to come sit by me with the knowledge that you will be treated with respect. I don't care if you have a nose ring,  if your kids spread cheerios from here to kingdom come,  if you have to leave early for work,  or if you're dressed casually. You have a seat by me.