Tzu mio ihs dohs eh loaded questions. I read something the other day that stopped me dead in my tracks and made me go back and re-read it. -Because it was just that awesome (and true I might add) ! Here's an exert from Max Lucados Grace For The Moment:
"Before you speak, ask: Will what I'm about to say help others become stronger? You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body. If you had food and saw someone starving, would you not share it? If you had water and saw someone dying of thirst, would you not give it? Of course you would. Then won't you do the same for their hearts? Your words are food and water! Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down. Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you."
Shichst vohs ich mah? -Loaded- How often to we jokingly insult someone. I'm guilty, and that paragraph totally spoke to me. I pondered on how often I've actually unintentionally hurt someone, with sarcasm, joking insults and whatever all else our interlocutory world has been deduced to. I confess that it's often a defense mechanism with me, - I make jokes, and I throw insults around to make people laugh, thinking that there is no way they are going to take me serious because I'm NOT!
But how do we know they know we're not serious...How do we know they're not just laughing to cover up their hurt feelings.
As I write this I'm thinking back on an evening not so long ago, when we had visitors, and we hit it of in an instant. But did we... The evening was filled with throwing 'joking insults' back and forth, and rambunctious laughter. I enjoyed myself immensely, because I was in my element. But I found myself questioning it later on... Did they know I wasn't serious? Some of the things that I said can be take up in totally mean ways, did they know I didn't mean it? If I didn't mean it, then why did I say it? -Simple, it's my defense mechanism. It shouldn't be, and from here on out, I'm challenging myself, to not insult anybody in anyway shape or form, serious or not. Some might ask me if I can actually be serious. -I've heard it more times than I care to admit. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but if people think you're never serious than whose going to take you serious when you actually are! But I can be serious, it's just that I prefer to not show that side of me to everybody, except a few close friends.
Maybe I'm the only one that has this issue- or see it as an issue... But to me that's what it is, an issue. I remember when I was 15-16 meeting some new people, I was appalled at how rude they were and how they would just say anything as a joke to people. Have I become one of those people, that I once looked at in dismay? (I hope not - there are different ways of saying things and joking -I believe and I sincerely hope that I have NOT become THAT.)
Before you think I'm this really bad person, I like to think that I'm not. I'm not sarcastic and joking all the time, I have my serious moments. It just takes one phone call from a friend needing someone to talk to, a child with tears in their eyes, neighbors that need a helping hand, and I try to be there. I want to be a servant, God's servant. I want to build people up and strengthen them, in ways that matter. I want to think of others before I think of myself. I want to make others feel good, with the words that escape my mouth -and after acknowledging that I actually could be hurting people by what I say I want to try to do better.
"May we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our King." -May that be our goal always, and forever.
~Let's keep shining for Christ~
-M♥~just yOuR ordinary Hutterite girl~
But how do we know they know we're not serious...How do we know they're not just laughing to cover up their hurt feelings.
As I write this I'm thinking back on an evening not so long ago, when we had visitors, and we hit it of in an instant. But did we... The evening was filled with throwing 'joking insults' back and forth, and rambunctious laughter. I enjoyed myself immensely, because I was in my element. But I found myself questioning it later on... Did they know I wasn't serious? Some of the things that I said can be take up in totally mean ways, did they know I didn't mean it? If I didn't mean it, then why did I say it? -Simple, it's my defense mechanism. It shouldn't be, and from here on out, I'm challenging myself, to not insult anybody in anyway shape or form, serious or not. Some might ask me if I can actually be serious. -I've heard it more times than I care to admit. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but if people think you're never serious than whose going to take you serious when you actually are! But I can be serious, it's just that I prefer to not show that side of me to everybody, except a few close friends.
Maybe I'm the only one that has this issue- or see it as an issue... But to me that's what it is, an issue. I remember when I was 15-16 meeting some new people, I was appalled at how rude they were and how they would just say anything as a joke to people. Have I become one of those people, that I once looked at in dismay? (I hope not - there are different ways of saying things and joking -I believe and I sincerely hope that I have NOT become THAT.)
Before you think I'm this really bad person, I like to think that I'm not. I'm not sarcastic and joking all the time, I have my serious moments. It just takes one phone call from a friend needing someone to talk to, a child with tears in their eyes, neighbors that need a helping hand, and I try to be there. I want to be a servant, God's servant. I want to build people up and strengthen them, in ways that matter. I want to think of others before I think of myself. I want to make others feel good, with the words that escape my mouth -and after acknowledging that I actually could be hurting people by what I say I want to try to do better.
"May we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our King." -May that be our goal always, and forever.
~Let's keep shining for Christ~
-M♥~just yOuR ordinary Hutterite girl~
2 comments:
Loaded question...loaded post. It makes perfect sense, really! I know what you're talking about and it's something I'm struggling not to be as well... Awesome post.
Hey sis,
I think this is well worded and written! Gives us all something to think about!
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