Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Be Gentle and Kind

People who are quick to react or respond critically are often their worst critics themselves even when they don't admit it. Even in positive and outgoing personality temperaments. They can manifest through disapproving stares, sarcastic comments, condescending glares, or saying ,"Wow. That was stupid of you to say or do that." With biting judgment and scathing looks of "you're not accepted or welcome among us" 

Yes, there are times and places to think and hold your tongue before you speak. There are people who don't think or filter their words carefully because they desperately want to fit in realizing too late often through disapproving gazes from others that they shouldn't have spoken. Something that just doesn't make sense to the topic in discussion even if in some sense it was related to that but it just didn't click very well in real time because their brains processed so fast it didn't have time to register until after it's already been said. 

While not everybody will understand or validate them because they're not inside their minds and were raised different, etc. It's helpful to be gentle and patient with these people when trying to teach them how to navigate various social landscapes and develop social awareness. 

The brain is wired by repetition and the more you repeat a thought or idea the stronger the connection between neurons grow forming patterns on how you connect with and shape the world. Those who are so quick to judge negatively and harshly do so because they do it to themselves all the time. It's learned behavior. Their minds are on high alert scanning for something or someone to criticize, especially when something doesn't "belong" in their worldview because it's different or abstract. 

While those who choose gentleness, patience, and kindness have sowed and watered those seeds they planted with TLC which shows through speech and actions. It all starts with tending to the roots to nurture healthy soil.

Friday, May 2, 2025

1 Kings 17:2-6

I was reading 1 Kings 17:2-6 in my devotions today and just wanted to share what I learned. 

God told Elijah to hide in a cave and He would supply nourishment from the ravens and the brook. Elijah obeyed and was provided food by the ravens and water by the brook. Whenever God calls us to do something, He always provides what we need to be nourished, strengthened, and equipped for what God has prepared for us ahead. 

It's easy to overthink the worst case scenario of "what if" this happens, etc when faced with the unknown but God already knows the future and has everything sorted out, our only job is to trust and obey Him and He will take care of the rest as we step out in faith by doing, "taking action". 

James 1:5-8 says if we lack wisdom to ask God who will give it to us liberally without finding fault. But when we ask, we must believe and not doubt which means that once God has given us wisdom, we act on it. We don't overanalyze or overthink it because then we become hesitant and unstable with doubting like being tossed to and fro like the waves. Thus He can't bless us or take us where we need to be. 

Whatever we are facing in life, ask God for wisdom in that area and when He shows us what to do, do it. And He will provide us and guide us in the process.