Proverbs 14:16
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.
All rights reserved.
The late Paul Harvey used to end
his daily radio program with the words…”and now you know the rest of the
story.” In recent weeks, I have encountered more than one situation
where parties on either side didn’t have all the facts. Wrong
assumptions were made, and feelings were hurt – sometimes deeply.
Maybe this has happened to you, as well.
I’ve walked the aisles
of the grocery store in the last few weeks and met people who had no
clue what was happening in my life. I knew that. I was not offended
when they said, “How’s it going?” or “Have a great day!” They couldn’t
possibly know all that my family was experiencing. I did not know “the
rest of the story” when I was angered and insulted by the unprofessional
treatment I received a few months ago from someone who I later learned
had just received devastating news and was hurting deeply.
In the
throes of grief and suffering over the loss of a loved one, it is easy
for people to become upset with one another… even to hurl affronts and
untruths. When things are not going well at school, church, or among
friends, the facts can quickly become distorted – and tempers can flare,
resulting in hurt feelings that might never heal.
The point is
that this passage in Proverbs reminds us to take a step back, to avoid
retaliation - and watch our step. Often, it is wise to simply “chill
out” and let the dust settle a bit before we react. At best, we must
choose our words carefully…prayerfully…with the full wisdom of God
Almighty. We must ask Him to show us how to move forward…what to say
and do – and how we should not react and respond.
This is a
really big challenge…particularly when our feelings are “on our
sleeve,” our nerves are on edge, and we are stressed to the max. Have I
painted with a brush broad enough to include you yet?! Ask God to show
you when to stop, look and listen…when to pull back and take a deep
breath…and how to start moving forward again.
Headstrong and
reckless are not Godly qualities. If our goal is to be more like Him
every day, then these actions and behaviors have no place in our daily
living. Will you join me in the challenge to watch our steps and live
wisely…to honor God with our words, thoughts and actions each and every
day? Will you wait for “the rest of the story” before you react? And
will this be the day that you begin?
© Debbie Robus
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