Today's scripture is from Proverbs and is related to my previous post. When we speak, we need to do so respectfully.
"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
will have the king for his friend." -Proverbs 22:11
Why does the Lord tell us to speak respectfully and in grace? Because the Lord knows that you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar! Why?
* Being right may make you wrong!
You may be telling the "God's Honest Truth", but if you do so disrespectfully and without grace, nobody will care! Being right about something doesn't make you effective when you discuss it with someone. Good communication skills do! Nobody will be willing to hear you out if they feel they are being spoken to disrespectfully. Even if they do hear you, they will not listen. Lastly, if they do hear you, listen, understand and agree, they may not be willing to admit it-even to themselves!
* Few will forgive intent.
Sometimes it isn't what we say but how we say it that communicates the most. People can forgive someone who misspeaks. What they have a hard time forgiving is intent. The way in which we approach someone shows our intent. Did we simply use the wrong word or did we INTEND to accuse you of something. That is the question.
* Words live on after you speak them.
Once words are spoken, they have a life of their own and cannot be taken back. You may be able to apologize for poor word choice, but you will have a hard time obtaining forgiveness for a disrespectful intent to mock.
* Grace is more effective.
God knows that sharing something in grace has a much better chance of yielding results. Have you ever had to tell someone something that you were afraid they would take the wrong way? It needed to be said, but you were afraid of how they might react. Perhaps to your children? Whatever God puts in your heart to share with someone has a much better opportunity to be taken well if it is said in grace. At least if the person disagrees with you, they know you had meant it in love.
* Your words and intent behind them can show God's love.
If we speak in grace and out of love for one another, we show God's love and grace and mercy. Even man knows this to be true: "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Dale Carnegie
If we speak in grace respecting that each individual has his own mind and a right to decide for himself, we show respect for him. He, then, is more likely to show respect for us and for our ideas. We may not always agree with our friends and leaders, but we can begin to dialog with them, creating alliances with those who can help us.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, but it is her humorous approach to communication skills which has made her a highly sought-after Christian speaker and writer. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication studies for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
