Dig down deep...do you know what that one thing is in your life that you just so happen know a lot about?
It's been my observation in life that the older a person is, the more subject matters they have an opinion about. If you think about it, a person that is older than you has had more experiences in life. Fortunately or unfortunately, as people get older they seem to be more and more willing to share their opinions with others, whether they are asked for or not.
What would happen if you met someone who knew more than you about a subject you were interested in. What if you met an expert? What if YOU were the expert?
My suggestion to look at ourselves is by no accident. How we respond to others is so important.
When teaching our children to ride their bikes without training wheels, I remember being very frustrated. I can ride a bike very well, but this was a skill our kids had not grasped yet. Instead of yelling at them for not trying hard enough and belittling them, my husband and I chose to encourage them, run beside them, and hold onto them until they were comfortable to take off and ride on their own.
Our words are so important. They can either breathe life into someone or scorn them in defeat.
I love the messages in the book of James. While praying about this subject, I enjoyed reading James 1:19 in different translations of the bible. This is the translation I enjoyed the most from The Message:
Post this at all the intersections, dear friends:
Lead with your ears,
follow up with your tongue,
and let anger straggle along in the rear. James 1:19
Do you think it is an accident that James found it necessary to tell his friends to "Post this message at all the intersections"? He wanted the word to get out. James wanted the principal he was conveying to reach all people, in every corner of the land.
Today I challenge you to consider how you interact with others. Do you listen to people and let them talk before you offer a response? When is the last time you really heard someone talk about a subject they were passionate about?
Personally, I've been on the accused side of the conversation way too often. It's not pleasant. At. All. Some people choose to live in suspicion of everyone around them, afraid that someone will be superior to them. Some people feel so threatened by others knowing more or doing more than they do.
My prayer is for clarity. May the Lord show each of us how He can best use us for His glory. May our hearts and minds be OPEN to think about the ways we interact with other people. Is there anything we've said to anyone that maybe we should be asking for forgiveness?
Thank you Lord for teaching us how to love and be a light that shines brightly for you. May our words be seasoned with life giving nourishment to all those we come in contact with.