Father, I have every reason to rely on You. When I am shaky at best, You are solid as a rock. May I fall into Your almighty arms for You will surely get me through anything and everything I might come up against! Amen.
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Early on my elementary route, there are two stops across from each other. The first house has a German Shepherd (and a couple of other little dogs) and the other house has three Labradoodles. Inevitably when I pull up to the first house, the dogs are at it. I think the German Shepherd has been trained to not leave his yard and the Labradoodles have an invisible fence in theirs. But believe you me, that doesn’t stop communication between them. The one on the left holds his own with the three on the right – back and forth, bark, bark, bark!
I don’t know if they are just catching up with everything since their last meeting or if they’re giving a vocal defense of their territories.
How often do we “bark” at each other? (And my mind isn’t going down the path of friendly interaction here.) I’m pretty sure that I am not alone when it comes to “barking” at my loved ones on more than rare occasions. When we are close and familiar with those around us it is very easy to jump on easy targets. Things are said or done and we in turn “interpret’ them to mean such and such. How many times are they just things said and done with no offense or affront intended? But we are all over it with quick retaliation!
Or how about when we are tired – maybe totally worn out, even – and when things don’t go the way we think they should, it doesn’t take much for us to blow up and really, we are just blowing things way out of proportion! Many times there is non-stop “barking” with our “opposition” getting no opportunity to get a “bark” in sideways!
Thoughtfully take time to digests these verses from the book of Proverbs and see if, just maybe, your bark may be worse than your bite. (All passages are from the New Living Translation.)
With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
….but knowledge will rescue the righteous. Proverbs 11:9
It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
….a sensible person keeps quiet. Proverbs 11:12
Your kindness will reward you,
….but your cruelty will destroy you. Proverbs 11:17
A gentle answer deflects anger,
….but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1
Gentle words are a tree of life;
….a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
Kind words are like honey—
….sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24
Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
….the right words bring satisfaction. Proverbs 18:20
Telling lies about others
….is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
….or shooting them with a sharp arrow. Proverbs 25:18
Lord Jesus, may Psalm 141:3 be the prayer of our hearts today.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly]. AMP
Mar 2nd, 2021, Tues, 7:15 pm
