Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Planning”
Our Bible verse for today: “The one who gives an answer before he listens – this is foolishness and disgrace to him.” Proverbs 18:13 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Give some thought to how you will interact with difficult people and what you will say in difficult situations.”
I’ve learned from personal experience that it’s always foolish to speak from emotion in heated or difficult situations. We should never allow our emotions to control our tongue because inevitably, our emotions will lead us to say things that make the situation worse rather than better. Instead, calm and thoughtful reason needs to carry the day.
How do we accomplish that? First of all you must learn to hold your tongue. It’s like your mamma always said, “Count to ten first.”
Years ago I adopted Abraham Lincoln’s favorite way of addressing a difficult subject with a difficult person – he wrote to them. Before he attempted to discuss it with them he would write them a letter about it. When we write about something it causes us to think deeply about what it is we really mean to say. Then we can reread it multiple times and edit it until we’re sure it says exactly what we want it to say. We also need to make sure it reads in a measured and reasonable tone. Then the recipient can slowly read it, think about it, and reread it multiple times before a decision is made about how to respond. Only then would Lincoln actually meet with the person for a verbal conversation.
However you achieve it, it’s important to think-through and plan for how you are going to deal with people in difficult situations. Thought must be given to what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. In Proverbs 18:13 Solomon counseled us to listen carefully to what the other person is saying (and by implication to give fair thought to it) before responding to them.
Another important strategy is to resist the urge to interrupt the other person when they’re speaking. Interrupting is rude and it shows that you’re more interested in what you have to say rather than what they have to say.
Relationships are important, and they’re built on good communications. In difficult situations spontaneous speech is seldom helpful. We have to plan what we’re going to say and how we’re going to say it.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 