Friday, April 19, 2024
…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20
Dealing with people can be diffi cult. Imagine that! Recently, a friend shared an interchange she had with a person who has the potential to be somewhat of a challenge. In this case, he had told her something that just did not make sense. The facts were not adding up. I asked her a simple question: “Did you confront the inconsistencies in his story?” And her response? She said, “I can’t speak to him again until my patience returns.”
I was convicted immediately. How many times have I spoken before my patience returned? My patience actually takes frequent vacations. Sometimes I think it even goes on extended cruises out of the country! And it often leaves without any advance warning. I find myself in an awkward situation, and patience is nowhere to be found.
When I speak before my patience returns, I say things I regret later. It is during its absence that I snap at someone. And, when it’s not around, my communication becomes blunt and clipped. Anger is usually lurking in the shadows when my patience fails to return in a timely manner.
My friend is on to something. It is a good idea to wait for our patience to return before speaking into a situation because then we are more likely to get our ideas across in a way that reduces confl ict instead of fanning it. Tasks are completed in a timely manner. Friendships are preserved. Children are not wounded by words of anger spoken by their parents. We are far less likely to speak words that we may regret for a lifetime.
Are you dealing with a difficult person this week? Don’t speak until your patience returns.
