“When The Culture Is Divided-Listen Before You Speak”

Nish Weiseth – Speak

Happy Friday, Dear Readers!

I’m so glad you are here! Today, I’m linking up with Five Minute Friday, where we write five minutes on a one word prompt. I hope you will join me.

Today’s word: SPEAK

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We had a brief respite from the heat here in the south. The past few days, oppressive humidity and relentless heat have reared their ugly selves again. We are weary in these parts, trapped inside, hanging near the air conditioning vents, hiding behind blinds, and every other heat stopping method we can come up with.

We are discontented, wearied by a heaviness in our souls. We are done with the noise, the squabbling, the violence.

I look back to a time when social media was a place of pleasantries, pictures of our children and grandchildren, s’mores toasted by the fire, or the loaf of freshly baked bread sending an inviting aroma throughout your home. Where and when might I draw a line in the dirt, claiming my side of thinking? I’m wondering is there any worth in drawing that line?

Where and when might I draw a line in the dirt, claiming my side of thinking?

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When the line is drawn, we stand toe to toe, speak our thoughts, never thinking to listen. In truth, should we not be listening before we utter a word? Before we draw that proverbial, decisive, divisive line?

When I turn to the wisdom in Solomon’s book of Proverbs, much is said about the tongue.

There is more hope for the fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. Proverbs 29:29 (NLT)

When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. Proverbs 31:26 (NLT)

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap  the consequences. Proverbes 18:21 (NLT)

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 (NLT) 

This past week, spirits were crushed, lives diminished, freedoms obliterated. Why? I believe in the heat of anger, the heat of being right, the heat of drawing lines in the dirt, not one person thought to listen before they spoke.

Can we say we listened before we spoke?

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Words can speak life and words can speak death. Before we choose our side, and jump into the fray of divisiveness, wouldn’t we all be better off if we listened before we speak?

If we are standing on the side of Christ, our words will be life-giving. If we are standing on the side of Christ, we speak truth with love. At the end of the day, I want to be standing on the side of Christ.

Silence speaks louder than words. Listening speaks louder than words.

Gifts of Grace

I’m blessed to serve you in this place, to share with you the Gifts of Grace as I journey through the wilderness. I picture you across the table, hands wrapped tightly around your cup, sharing life, and laughter, and tears. As I share with you, my own daily struggles, I long to hear what yours may be. Sharing the realness of life. You can do that by commenting below or reaching out to me here.

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Generations Lost: Have we given up too soon?