8-11It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God. (The Message)
One way or another we all know people that won't listen to us and people that we choose not to listen to. But have you ever stopped to ask why you listen better to some people rather than others? Sometimes it is the tone of voice that people use or their way of speaking. I choose though to give special attention to those who I know have my best interest in mind. When someone corrects me or expresses their disappointment with me I will listen much closer if I know that they are speaking out of love and concern for me. The counsel and guidance I am most open to are those who have developed a relationship with me over time and shown me in many ways that I can trust them. It is never easy to be corrected but I wouldn't give those friends up for the world who are willing to do it when necessary.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- When you hear people say what they think you should and shouldn't do do you hear it as a list of rules or as an invitation to grow?
- Who in your life do you trust to give words of correction when necessary?
- How do you best receive correction?
- How might you learn to better share your concerns so that others might receive them in a better way?
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