Today I am thankful for: lovely weather, a nice day with my kiddos, lunch at Rubio's, a quiet shopping trip to Sprouts, making it to dance early, having Josh home for dinner, coconut-pecan cookies (from Sprouts--definitely going to have to make my own!), a new pasta recipe for dinner, quiet time after dinner to read and pray.
I'm working on my people-skills. I'm probably nice to a fault, ready to make friends with anyone and believe the best about them; someone once said regarding a mutual co-worker, "Alicia doesn't even like her and that means something!" So what people skills do I need to work on? Well, I'm an introvert in nature. I hate making small-talk and I am very uncomfortable in large group situations, even when I know the guests. I can put on a happy face, smile and laugh, engage in conversation and end up having a really good time...or not; either way, I end up both exhilerated and exhausted. There's got to be a reason I'm so easily intimidated and shy. Can't think of a good one, yet, but I'm sure it's there! In any case, I am working on being more open and available to friends. I'd really love nothing more than to hide at home all the time, yet there's a big part of me that yearns to be around others. It's really an odd thing.
In reading Proverbs 12 tonight I came across a verse that made me pause and reflect. Proverbs 12:18 "There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise will promote health." I think I'm afraid of those piercing tongues (not to be confused with tongue-piercings, lol!). This isn't to say that I never fall into the description of the former, or that I even consider myself "wise" like the latter. Something in my nature is afraid of confrontation of any kind; I sort of freeze and don't know what to do when I'm personally being confronted, whether justly or not. I flush beet red and feel the heat radiating from my cheeks; I shake and tremble and go numb in my brain. I simply do not know what to say. The same thing happens when I'm the offended party and need to stand up. I'm a wimp. It could be something simple like being overcharged for something minor on a restaurant bill; I hate pointing out others' mistakes!
This is where I really feel convicted by this verse. I know I should always watch what I say, even what I think, about others. That's easy; obviously, I'd much rather think nice thoughts and use kind words, though I need to make sure I'm being honest in how I interact with others. I also know that when I do need to stand up for something, I pour on the sweetness and try to be as gentle as possible--I never want anyone to know that I'm angry, and there's never really any excuse for yelling at or belittling someone even when their treatment of you is less than stellar. The truth for me is in "promoting health" with my words; I need to realize that sometimes I have to step up and speak up rather than allow a wrong to continue. There are times I need to say something, to highlight a mistake or wrong-doing on someone else's part for everyone's benefit. I tend to let things fester inside me when I could cut it out and heal by saying something.
What's even more convicting and more difficult for me is stepping up and speaking up on someone else's behalf. There have been experiments conducted where people behave very badly in common areas to test public reaction. I read those and immediately know what should be done; but would I do it? I think of the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and I wonder what I would have done. I would have had no trouble aiding that poor man as the Samaritan did, but what would I have done if I had come upon him as the thieves were beating him? I'm sure if I came upon something similar in today's world I'd call the authorities--easier than in the 1st century. But there are times where taking a stand is a more nebulous affair; maybe the offending parties aren't necessarily breaking the law or causing physical harm. It could be a disagreement between friends or family, a complete stranger behaving rude towards someone or being careless. Do I have the strength and courage to promote health in that situation? To speak up in encouragement of another and to rebuke one who is being hurtful? See, when I read this verse I know that I need to guard my own tongue, but there are times when promoting health means being bold and saying something--raising a shield to those piercing tongues!
Father, I really need Your help! It means nothing at all to have the wisdom to bring change, to bring resolution, if I do not act in love. Help me to trust You more, to have a deeper faith that replaces the fear I experience in certain situations. As You show me how to love, help me to be bolder, to be stronger for the sake of others around me! Lord Jesus I pray that You teach me how to speak in a way that promotes health to others and myself--I really need to learn to see others through Your eyes so that I can be effective as a friend and ally. I pray that I might see my own weaknesses and confess the sins of selfishness that are keeping my light from glowing as bright as You want it to. Help me to grow, help me to love, and help me to shine! In Jesus' sweet name, Amen!
I'm working on my people-skills. I'm probably nice to a fault, ready to make friends with anyone and believe the best about them; someone once said regarding a mutual co-worker, "Alicia doesn't even like her and that means something!" So what people skills do I need to work on? Well, I'm an introvert in nature. I hate making small-talk and I am very uncomfortable in large group situations, even when I know the guests. I can put on a happy face, smile and laugh, engage in conversation and end up having a really good time...or not; either way, I end up both exhilerated and exhausted. There's got to be a reason I'm so easily intimidated and shy. Can't think of a good one, yet, but I'm sure it's there! In any case, I am working on being more open and available to friends. I'd really love nothing more than to hide at home all the time, yet there's a big part of me that yearns to be around others. It's really an odd thing.
In reading Proverbs 12 tonight I came across a verse that made me pause and reflect. Proverbs 12:18 "There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise will promote health." I think I'm afraid of those piercing tongues (not to be confused with tongue-piercings, lol!). This isn't to say that I never fall into the description of the former, or that I even consider myself "wise" like the latter. Something in my nature is afraid of confrontation of any kind; I sort of freeze and don't know what to do when I'm personally being confronted, whether justly or not. I flush beet red and feel the heat radiating from my cheeks; I shake and tremble and go numb in my brain. I simply do not know what to say. The same thing happens when I'm the offended party and need to stand up. I'm a wimp. It could be something simple like being overcharged for something minor on a restaurant bill; I hate pointing out others' mistakes!
This is where I really feel convicted by this verse. I know I should always watch what I say, even what I think, about others. That's easy; obviously, I'd much rather think nice thoughts and use kind words, though I need to make sure I'm being honest in how I interact with others. I also know that when I do need to stand up for something, I pour on the sweetness and try to be as gentle as possible--I never want anyone to know that I'm angry, and there's never really any excuse for yelling at or belittling someone even when their treatment of you is less than stellar. The truth for me is in "promoting health" with my words; I need to realize that sometimes I have to step up and speak up rather than allow a wrong to continue. There are times I need to say something, to highlight a mistake or wrong-doing on someone else's part for everyone's benefit. I tend to let things fester inside me when I could cut it out and heal by saying something.
What's even more convicting and more difficult for me is stepping up and speaking up on someone else's behalf. There have been experiments conducted where people behave very badly in common areas to test public reaction. I read those and immediately know what should be done; but would I do it? I think of the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and I wonder what I would have done. I would have had no trouble aiding that poor man as the Samaritan did, but what would I have done if I had come upon him as the thieves were beating him? I'm sure if I came upon something similar in today's world I'd call the authorities--easier than in the 1st century. But there are times where taking a stand is a more nebulous affair; maybe the offending parties aren't necessarily breaking the law or causing physical harm. It could be a disagreement between friends or family, a complete stranger behaving rude towards someone or being careless. Do I have the strength and courage to promote health in that situation? To speak up in encouragement of another and to rebuke one who is being hurtful? See, when I read this verse I know that I need to guard my own tongue, but there are times when promoting health means being bold and saying something--raising a shield to those piercing tongues!
Father, I really need Your help! It means nothing at all to have the wisdom to bring change, to bring resolution, if I do not act in love. Help me to trust You more, to have a deeper faith that replaces the fear I experience in certain situations. As You show me how to love, help me to be bolder, to be stronger for the sake of others around me! Lord Jesus I pray that You teach me how to speak in a way that promotes health to others and myself--I really need to learn to see others through Your eyes so that I can be effective as a friend and ally. I pray that I might see my own weaknesses and confess the sins of selfishness that are keeping my light from glowing as bright as You want it to. Help me to grow, help me to love, and help me to shine! In Jesus' sweet name, Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment