Perhaps you are a guardian of a child and you gave instruction for them to do a chore and instead of a polite response, they gave you attitude?
We've all been ready to respond with an unkind word, reared up into someone's face, or even just get an attitude because life didn't go our way.
I recently thought of someone in my life that gets an attitude when things don't go her way. Often times, she smacks her lips, swerves her neck with attitude and makes her mouth go crooked. Instead of pulling her arm and fist back to give a sucker punch; she lets her tongue give the lashings instead. This girl really gets an attitude. Then, later in the day, week, and month or in life; she remembers what she said and realizes just how hurtful her words were. Sometimes her mouth has gotten her into trouble such as time out in the corner or even placed in a jail cell for time out. Man can our tongues get us into trouble or what?
It is possible to live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers (and sisters), be compassionate and humble. We do not need to repay evil for evil or insult with insult but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Now that is my kind of response I want. I will take a blessing over a curse any day.
God tells us these words and more about how to live a life of good.
Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
You may not believe in that Jesus Christ came as the Son of God, died on the cross for your sins, nor rose from the grave on the third day nor ascended into heaven and sits at the seat of judgment. However, one day your knee will bow and your tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
I don't know about you, however, I want long days of good and not evil. I feel like crap when I talk negative to or about others. I don't feel good when being in fights with others. I would rather tell my enemy that I love them than fight with them. I would rather show kindness to them rather than point my finger at them and tell them what a poor sucker they are. Kicking someone is not my idea of fun and I hope you will consider how it would feel if your enemy kicks you. It won't feel good. So why not stop the entire attitude you throw around? Why not pray for your enemy and your attitude? Why not try for one day showing compassion and humble yourself to goodness and mercy? I promise you will feel better than the stinking thinking you hold onto when you smack your lips and swerve your head to make that ugly face.
If it was possible, would you want to make that face, have someone slap you on the back and you were stuck with that facial expression for the rest of your life?
I hope not, but our words and actions are important and love should over take you regardless of who you get an attitude with. So the next time you are ready to show your butt off, I hope you will consider the outcome before you even begin showing evil for evil and insult to insult.
What you wear doesn't matter, but what you say matters and how you say it matters even more. What you wear on the inside shows on the outside. What book are you allowing others to read out of yourself?
~ Be Encouraged
