Why are we so quick and eager to speak, to react, to defend, to explain and justify?
Is it our own insecurities acting up? Or does the stature of the other party not measure up to our level of tolerance and respect?
Does it matter to you, whether the other party gets to speak up, whether you know the whole picture? Am I running low on my supply of 'B.O.F' (benefit of doubt) to give around?
I guess our instinct to snap back a well-reasoned reply is like a dog having a ball thrown at him....there is the tendancy to rush for a good, quick satisfying bite at it. And it's hard trying to hold back the reins...especially when the rein is on you.
But think of what it could do, when you choose to remove those ear plugs, and give a moment and grace to listen....
You could be instrumental in preventing another hurtful heart found right at the end of your next sentence. ...
You could find yourself being invited to a little known corner of the person's heart that has been closed in until now....
You could find yourself growing in your P.Q. (patience quotient) ...
You could save some pages of your journal/diary that might have been used writing and lamenting of the heartaches and regrets of spoilt relationships over hurtful words...
You could find yourself being on the receiving end of some grace instead...
You might realise that you are not as good as you thought of yourself to be...
Is it our own insecurities acting up? Or does the stature of the other party not measure up to our level of tolerance and respect?
Does it matter to you, whether the other party gets to speak up, whether you know the whole picture? Am I running low on my supply of 'B.O.F' (benefit of doubt) to give around?
I guess our instinct to snap back a well-reasoned reply is like a dog having a ball thrown at him....there is the tendancy to rush for a good, quick satisfying bite at it. And it's hard trying to hold back the reins...especially when the rein is on you.
But think of what it could do, when you choose to remove those ear plugs, and give a moment and grace to listen....
You could be instrumental in preventing another hurtful heart found right at the end of your next sentence. ...
You could find yourself being invited to a little known corner of the person's heart that has been closed in until now....
You could find yourself growing in your P.Q. (patience quotient) ...
You could save some pages of your journal/diary that might have been used writing and lamenting of the heartaches and regrets of spoilt relationships over hurtful words...
You could find yourself being on the receiving end of some grace instead...
You might realise that you are not as good as you thought of yourself to be...
You could experience what He roughly felt when He chose to open His ears and heart, the joy in giving...
And you most probably would come to realise, how much lighter and relaxed your ears feel without the burden of those earplugs.
And you most probably would come to realise, how much lighter and relaxed your ears feel without the burden of those earplugs.
- Deqi
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Love is Patient“Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do.”James 1:4Sometime ago our church staff attended a leadership conference.
Especially interested in one class, I arrived early and snagged a front-row seat. As the speaker began, however, I was distracted by a couple of voices in the back of the room. Two guys were mumbling to each other. I was giving serious thought to shooting a glare over my shoulder when the speaker offered an explanation.“Forgive me,” he said. “I forgot to explain why the two fellows at the back of the class are talking. One of them is an elder at a new church in Romania. He has traveled here to learn about church leadership. But he doesn’t speak English, so the message is being translated.”All of a sudden everything changed. Patience replaced impatience.Why? Because patience always hitches a ride with understanding.
“A man of understanding holds his tongue” (Prov. 11:12 NIV).Don’t miss the connection between understanding and patience.
Before you blow up, listen up. Before you strike out, tune in.
A Max Lucado devotional
