February 28, 2020
Small Thing, Big Damage
Kelly Balarie
Today’s Truth
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9, NIV).
Friend to Friend
I noticed a scratch on the kitchen floor.
"Where did that come from?" I asked, as I pointed it out to my husband.
"I don't know." He replied.
The next day, I looked down on the ground and there were probably about 5 more. What in the world?! I had just put felt bottoms on those chairs, for this exact reason. It makes no sense at all that the chairs would be ruining the floors like this. But they were!
I got down on my hands and knees and flipped the chair over, only to find a rock about the size of two specks of pepper.
This little rock could do that much damage? I said to myself while holding it in my hand.
It certainly can.
What little rock do you have in your life right now? Maybe you get angry or frustrated when circumstances don’t go right. I complain.
I speak-out: what is not right, what hasn't happened, and what isn't coming together. I focus on the negative. I gripe. I act a little dour and sour -- commenting on small things.
Not everything I want to say, needs to be said.
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9, NIV
The reality is: I haven't been creating a hospitable atmosphere for my family. The environment shifts the second I speak-out – with a bad attitude. Worst of all, bad attitudes can be contagious. I notice, the more I get negative, the more my kids do and the more it brings my husband’s spirit down.
What about you? Do you realize the power you hold in your tongue?
Are you uplifting others or killing the joy? Speaking life or making everyone participate in your every annoying moment?
I once heard someone say, people don't remember the food we made them, the house decorations we had, nor the gifts we sent them home with -- they remember how we made them feel.
This makes me wonder today, how do I make the Holy Spirit feel, as He lives within me? Am I being hospitable to the Holy Spirit, who indwells within?
Today, I commit again, to do my best, to mind my mouth. But I wonder -- what about you? Might you join me?
Let’s intention in our heart to mind our words, allowing only what is uplifting, good, valuable, worthy and helpful – to proceed forth. Of course, we won’t speak perfectly, but I believe, even small changes will have an immense impact in the environment of our home and with our relationship with God. Why not give it a chance?
Let’s Pray
Father, changing my words feels hard. Will You help me? Will You lead me in identifying what needs to be said and what doesn’t? Thank You so very much.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
In what way do you need to mind your words? How can you begin to effect change? What new thoughts can you think, before you speak?
More from the Girlfriends
Kelly Balarie, blogger at Purposeful Faith and author of the new book “Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt and Live Victoriously” is passionate about joining hands with women who often find themselves stuck in the pits of life. Step-by-step, word-by-word, her dream is that together they can emerge better - fear, fret and panic-free. Get all of Kelly’s Purposeful Faith blog posts by email for a dose of inspiration and encouragement.
