Social media has made it so easy for folks to speak without thinking. WAY too easy.
People speak online- saying things they would NEVER say to someone in person.
I see things every single day online that make me cringe-
because I know that most of the time,
the people writing them are speaking from anger and doing so impulsively-
not stopping to consider the impact, pain it may cause, and the consequences of doing so-
and definitely not taking the time to consider the other's perspective.
This passage, written so long ago- speaks with amazing clarity to our world today
and is something I think we all need to be reminded of:
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ~ James 1:19-20
Simply put we are to: Listen, Hush, Calm down.
Ouch. Those verses step all over my toes.
If you are like me my human reaction is usually the complete opposite of those things
and I have to work really hard to ignore that gut reaction.
My prayer today is that we can all:
-LISTEN to really understand a person's concern or complaint (not listen to speak, actually listen)
-WAIT until our initial impulse passes, till we pray, till we ask some clarifying questions
-and THEN respond with patience, kindness, graciousness, honesty and clarity
