Skip to main content

At the Well - To Be Discreet

Gathering At the Well



The Titus 2 mandate is a familiar passage to many of us. As Christian women begin to mature in age and wisdom, the lessons learned through life and growing in God can be a blessing to younger woman - as God directed.

Titus 2:3-5 "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

Many time we are eager to share lessons learned on how to keep the house, love the husbands and children. But every now and again a phrase pops out that demands closer examination. "To be discreet" would be one of those phrases that make us stop and contemplate.

What exactly does being discreet mean?

  • Is there a line between what is okay to talk about online and what is not okay?

  • Where is that line?

  • What does running from house to house look like in this modern age?

  • Where is the line between venting and gossiping or tearing another person down?

  • Do we really have a right to say whatever we want to say?

  • How can we remind ourselves to practice discretion?

A formal definition of discreet is: Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.

Discreet is a virtue that is reflected through our words, actions and attitudes. It speaks (loudly) about what we are really made of!

When we are online we tend to exercise a bit more freedom in our actions and words. Since we are not face to face, it is easier to say things that we may not ordinarily say. Before we get online we should have a firm boundary in place for our conversations. Once we set that boundary, the rule should be to never cross it - period.

  • A few off limit topics may include:

  • Talking negatively about our spouse or children

  • Talking negatively about anyone else

  • Gossip or repeating things for others to see

  • Sharing too much of your personal life

  • Expressing your opinion without thought to other's feelings

  • Communicating with the opposite sex

In our culture we may not run from house to house, but do we run from "blog to blog"? Blogging is a fantastic tool for giving and receiving encouragement. It is one thing to stop for a visit, read, glean from and put into practice what we learned. It is entirely different if we are spending hours on the computer visiting blogs and becoming personally attached to the circumstances and life of a blog so that our own duties are neglected. A good rule of thumb is to meet the needs of our home and family first. Blogging is a fun hobby, not an obsession!

Online it may be easier to vent some things that bother us. Again a good boundary should be in place to guide us and it may be to exercise the right to express our personal opinion without attacking or being personally critical of another person. If our comment tears down another person, it is probably out of line.

Do we have a right to say whatever we want to say? We have a right, but as Christians we are not led by what we "can" do, but if we follow biblical principles, we will not only look to our interests, but look to the interests (or good) of others. Here are a few verses from Proverbs which warn of being foolish by saying too much:

  • Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

  • The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

  • A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

To be discreet is not a place we arrive, but a day by day journey. Being discreet in our actions each moment is how this virtue is planted and developed in our hearts. It may be as simple as not giving the answer that first pops up in our minds, to not wearing that article of clothing even though we know we look good in it, to knowing who to talk to and what not to reveal about ourselves. Being discreet is a choice by choice process which begins with seeking the Lord and His wisdom to be revealed in all that we do. Following His leading will keep us discreet in all circumstances and allow us to be the Titus 2 woman we strive to be.

Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you. Proverbs 2:11


Comments

  1. Great thoughts here! I really like the verse about a fool venting ALL his feelings. Restraint is a sign of wisdom...we should all strive for wisdom.
    Thanks for joining in At the Well!
    Blessings,
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great thoughts Joyce!

    Thanks so much for joining in the discussions!

    -Ashley

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very humbling words! Thank you so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your commment. It is a joy and blessing to hear from you and your words are appreciated.

Popular posts from this blog

Sometimes We Score, Sometimes We Block

Our family is in the midst of little league soccer season. My youngest son is playing and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is pretty good at the sport, but what makes it so great is that he loves it! He counts the days until the next game or practice. He loves his coach and teammates. He has moved up an age level this year and the players are working more like team, passing to each other and watching out for each other during play. During the last game, my son scored two goals, they were the only goals of the game. In today's game the team scored eight goals. My son came up afterwards to me and said, "I didn't score today, but I blocked". What a powerful truth those words can hold. In life, sometimes we score, sometimes we block. Sometimes we do great things, we excel, we achieve, we meet our goal - we score! There are also times we see the needs of others, sometimes they are sad or hurting, we block their hits. We look out for them so they can score. We

Relationships and Redemption

In every friendship or relationship, there is a common hope that they will grow and flourish. There is something inside of us that longs for a 'happy every after' story. We dream about it and work to make that happen. But in reality, relationships are a challenge. The bridging of values, lifestyles, interests and sacrificing for another are simply hard things to do! No matter how much we dream of the perfect fit, some relationships will not endure the stress.  When differences appear and tensions arise, prayer can change situations, attitudes and ourselves. For the Christian, we know God can transform, change, heal. We cannot change others, but prayer opens us the door for God to step in and answer. God desires transformation, but does not demand it. The gift of free will allows us to choose to say Yes or No to Him.  Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Take notice of the first two words: “If possible …” This implies that some

A Blank Page - A Great Way to Fill It

A blank page - that is the first view of a new blog post. It has been a while since I have faced the blank page of my little blog! A blank page can bring a variety of emotions - emptiness, anxiety, pressure to perform or emotions such as inspiration, encouragement or simply bursting to share something. But there is always something fresh and exciting about the blank page of a New Year. Happy 2023! This is always a time in my life where inspiration and plans are formed and ready to be implemented for greater change. Aspirations may start strong, but alone do not make a difference. It takes consistency to create change. The changing or adding small habits is a key to great changes. A habit that has been beneficial in my life for many years is rising early. It began when the children were small and was the only pocket of time I had to myself. Through the years, mornings have become my favorite time of the day. Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we go to bed early and rise early.