A gentle answer will calm a person's anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger. Proverbs 15:1
Have you ever been in a meeting with someone, to discuss a concern and then, for it to blow up in your face? Many times, the way we talk, our words, are what gets us in trouble. The Bible clearly speaks about the tongue and how wicked and sharp it can be. In Ephesians 4:29, we read "let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." We are to encourage, to lift one another up. Even in hard situations, of firing someone, or someone has wronged you, you can still edify them in the moment. In my 30 years in administration, people have told me that when I have fired them, that they felt lifted up, not broken down. I always try to find the good in someone, to show them ways that they may not be fitting for the job we had them to do, but something far better. God has a plan for everyone, and we are his ambassadors to share this with others, not to tear them down. Words stay with people, so you can either use your words to lift others up or bring them down. If someone comes at you in anger, and you lash back in anger, it only adds "fire to the flame". But, a gentle answer, calms their anger. Always listen to a negative person and see if there might be something that you can take from what they are saying. If we are not willing to listen to criticism and weed it out as if nothing to hear, then, we have messed up. We can all learn from negative and positive comments on our life. When we communicate in love, and in a gentle spirit, we will receive a spirit of respect. It may not always turn out the way we had anticipated, but we will always learn from each encounter. Be careful with your words, and as a reminder to me, I always think of the song.. taught as a young child.. "oh be careful little mouth what you say".. "for the father up above, is looking down below"..
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