Ever had one of those pesky things buzzing around your ear or in your face and you simply can't swat it down? Ever get bit by one and feel the after effects? Once you're bit, it itches until you scratch yourself raw. Opinions are like that sometimes. So I am of the opinion that sometimes, if not most times, it's better to keep my opinion to myself.
I've learned that lesson many times over in my 60 years. Today I was reminded again. So...from this point on, I think I'm going to exercise a whole bunch more caution when expressing my opinion. In fact, I think I'm gonna take a page out of my husband's playbook and keep my mouth shut and thoughts about what others say and do to myself. I'm gonna focus more on me and my attitude and my actions and how God is working in my daily life to sand off the rough edges, to pressure me into being a better person.
If I were to be what I want to be, I'd be:
Less critical of another's flaws and more vigilant of my own. Less apt to correct or reprove and more validating and affirming.
More thoughtful, gracious and kind. More peaceful, gentle and understanding. More conciliatory and patient. More optimistic, hopeful and joyful.
In fact, from this day forward, I may get absolutely sickening with my "words aptly spoken". But that will be my goal. In pursuing this goal, I'm afraid I won't be going where I find myself vulnerable to the weaknesses I know I have that tempt me to give in to my baser nature to disagree or voice my opinion. I find, for me, that for the most part folks are simply not interested in an opposing viewpoint. And personally, neither am I. I've lived too long with the conflict of life to play with conflict for conflict's sake. I just don't have it in me anymore. I'm too much of a wimp.
I want to get better. I want to be better. I want to live in peace as much as is possible with others. I want to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. I want to dwell on that which is pure and worthy of report. When I read something, I want to be able to say to someone I care about, "Hey, you really ought to read this." When I go somewhere, I want to be able to encourage someone, "Hey, this is a great place to visit."
So...for today, that is me~~just thinking outloud. And because some thoughts aren't worth a second thought, you may just want to forget these. It's entirely up to you. selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2008]
