Proverbs 15: 4-5
4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
We’ve all said things we wished we hadn’t. Words needed to be breathed back in quicker than they came out of our mouth.
We didn’t mean them.
We saw the hurt.
The tears in their eyes.
We instantly regret them…
I’ve been on the receiving end of these words. I’ve also dropped them like bombs.
These words bring guilt, shame, and condemnation. Neither way is an opportunity to forget. We rewind the tape in our heads over what was said to us. Or, we beat ourselves up because we can’t believe we actually said…THAT.
The one thing I’ve learned about how I best deal with crucial conversations or critical conflict is to wait.
Not utter a word.
Give myself 48 hours minimum to craft words that benefit the person and the situation.
Words are meant to be builders, not destroyers. Encouraging not discouraging.
Bring restoration to the conflict and watch how those words heal.
Healing words are the tree of life. Watch and see the blooms you create when your words are soothing.
5 Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline: whoever learns from correction is wise.
Discipline is such a hard word to comprehend. But harder still, to do.
Don’t walk away from those placed in authority over you. They have wisdom beyond your understanding. There’s a reason we all have those in authority over us. We need it.
It is a hand’s on lesson in course correction. As we receive the discipline it causes us to learn to be wise. Patient in our thought processes. Better choices are made.
Yearn for this discipline. Walk in it.
Want to be wise.