Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:5,6
Isn’t it amazing how God’s Word can come alive in our everyday life? I love the reminder in this verse to speak with grace and kindness and not to give a rash answer. Practicing this biblical principal is a bit harder, but as I found out, well worth the investment!
We recently went back to school shopping and purchased a pair of shoes at a local mall. Being old fashioned and wary of the new and convenient ways of financing, I wrote a check to pay for my purchase, (of course with funds to cover it!). A letter arrived this week informing me that there was an issue with my check and they were requesting the original amount plus a handling fee and were considering this an overdue debt.
As I quickly picked up the phone, my thoughts were that this was THEIR mistake, they were threatening my credit and I was never going to shop this store again! Surely you have found out that sometimes a simple phone call to resolve an issue turns into many phone calls, department transfers and lots of wasted time!
Finally reaching someone who knew what was going on, she quickly acknowledged that this was their mistake due to a machine malfunction. She was helpful and I purposed to speak kindly as she assisted me. At the end of our call, she thanked me for being courteous and patient. That was a very different response than she usually receives in her line of work. As I wrote a check to mail in, I noticed the cross on the check that I had ordered, to be a symbol of us as a Christian family. If I had spoken unkindly and she received that check with the Christian symbol on it, what a tarnish it would have been to my faith and witness.
As we go along our way and in the daily contact we have, may this verse be ingrained in our hearts and flow out through our words!
Good for you! You are right, we never know who is watching or listening. Our words and actions should always reflect the love of Christ. Easier said than done sometimes, but it certainly should be our mindset. Great reminder and testimony. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful testimony - thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great example you are setting for so many, starting with your own family and rippling out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI have Christian checks AND for years, I have copied an author whose name I no longer recall, and written short Bible verses under my signature - like God is faithful, God is true, God is love. Talk about the ripple effect that author has had, since I doubt I'm the only one impacted by his idea. I love to see what God does with our little seeds, don't you? :)
Thanks for a lovely Word-Filled Wednesday.