i wrote this really long and "meaningful" post but somehow i couldnt' find it after i left the computer and came back..odd.
anyway.
today something during sunday school really impacted me...Uncle simon talked to us about speaking to others the truth in love. Then he asked us how we should "confront" them in love, and finally he asked, "would it be love if you chose to keep quiet?"
...after a long awkward period of silence....
Osgood proceeded with the answer, "i guess....NO."
When he said no, it hit me..becuase it was such an extreme answer, i started contemplating the response and doubting it with questions like "well you can still love them but...just not say anything...", "you..dont want to hurt them so...."
I thought about it a bit more...but in the end the simplicity of the answer "no" was all that was needed to that question.
holding back on the truth or when you know somebody's doing wrong and keeping quiet is not love.
Why?...When you love someone, you want what's best for them, you desire for them to continue to grow and improve. When you see the person you love dwindling down the spiral of darkness, for example, gambling their fortune away, you're not going to say "oh if i tell him/her to stop, it'll hurt him/her, so i'll just keep my mouth shut while i watch him/her go broke". Or just a simple gesture like a friend who keeps swearing and complaining about the littlest things like "i hate my life because i have no more toothpaste", you're not just going to nod your head, wink and smile and say "wow you're such a grateful person............."
Point is, when we love someone, we want them to become a better person, holding it back will not help them grow. The bible has so much truth to this. Obviously we're not going to go up to the stage at church, or put it up on the bulletin board and announce it to the congregation, "my friend is so weak becuase he/she did ___________" you know what i mean?
Speaking the truth in love is also about doing it with wisdom and with constructive solutions, it includes encouragements and support, not just addressing the situation and leaving it at that, that's just being critical.
So all in all, with all that being said, i started to reflect on my relationships with friends and family...was i ever hiding anything from that? Have i been selfish by keeping something true back just because i was afraid to hurt them or be embarassed about it myself?
The answer is yes. and therefore i need to work on being bold.
"...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ..."
-Ephesians 4:15 (NASB)
4 comments:
very good post gen! :) and osgood... haha...
it's so true but i know that at the time, it always seems SO hard to bring up what you want to say in LOVE. and i've found it's always easier to give someone else the advice then to follow it through yourself. haha... but yes... super important. :) thanks!
hi Gendi, wow your post really hit me hard 'cos i was going thru a situation w/ a friend...where i actually carried this out w/ a good friend and am still experiencing the repercussions. i don't regret it, though 'cos God was telling me to do it. thanks!!!!
hi Gendi, wow your post really hit me hard 'cos i was going thru a situation w/ a friend...where i actually carried this out w/ a good friend and am still experiencing the repercussions. i don't regret it, though 'cos God was telling me to do it. thanks!!!!
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