Amanda and the women in her book club quickly judged a 50-year-old pregnant woman without knowing the full story. It was only after they learned the truth that they regretted their actions.
Amanda, in her 60s, was happily single. She never married or had children. To keep busy, she hosted a weekly neighborhood book club where local women gathered every Saturday. She got along well with her book club members but was known for her love of order. Whenever a neighbor’s child broke something or dirtied the street, she would get upset. Because of this, the children avoided her.
One day at the grocery store, Amanda met Jane, a 50-year-old neighbor she barely knew. Jane was looking at snack foods when Amanda commented, “We shouldn’t eat that at our age.” Jane politely explained that she bought snacks for guests. Amanda insisted she choose organic ones instead. Jane, knowing Amanda’s nature, simply thanked her and moved on.
At the checkout counter, Amanda invited Jane to the book club. Jane accepted and attended for a few weeks before suddenly stopping. Amanda was surprised and annoyed when Jane didn’t answer her calls. A month passed, and Jane remained absent.
Then one day, Amanda spotted Jane walking outside, gently holding her round belly. The next book club meeting, Amanda eagerly shared what she saw. “Jane is pregnant!” she exclaimed. Another woman confirmed it, and soon, the group began whispering about Jane’s age.
“At her age, she should be babysitting, not having babies!” Amanda said. Another woman added, “Imagine attending school meetings with gray hair.” The group laughed and continued to judge Jane.
A few days later, Amanda saw Jane at the grocery store again. She approached Jane, first commenting on her snack choice before bluntly questioning her pregnancy. Jane calmly responded, but suddenly felt sick and ran to the restroom.
Just then, Jane’s daughter and son-in-law appeared. “Why are you judging my mom?” her daughter asked. She then revealed that Jane was carrying the baby as a surrogate for her, after struggling with miscarriages. Amanda was stunned and immediately apologized.
Feeling ashamed, Amanda later visited Jane at the hospital and offered to help. Over time, they became good friends, and Amanda learned an important lesson about not judging others too quickly.