Jesus said to speak the truth, in love. He also said we are to be slow to be offended. Scripture also says that the words of someone in despair belong to the wind.
What I take from that is to let minor things that really don’t matter go by the wayside. If someone says something that you could take the wrong way, chose not to take it that way rather than building strife. I also think it means to consider the source. If someone is sick or in pain or just hurting and they say some things they shouldn’t, their circumstances should be taken into account. If someone is elderly and alone and doesn’t have the patience and finesse that they once had, perhaps we should consider that we may be just the same way by the time we reach their age, and give them some grace.
Speaking the truth in love comes into play, IMHO, when something reaches a point where it’s time to speak up. That’s when you honestly tell someone what they’ve said or done is wrong, tell them why (if they don’t know) and open the door for them to make things right. Usually that involves acknowledgment of the offence, sincere regret, humble apology, not committing the offence again (to the best of their ability) and welcoming restoration.
I think all of the sweeping it under the carpet and hoping everyone just says nothing is the perfect description of dysfunction, not to mention a bit cowardly...the easy way to avoid confronting a problem.
Don’t have time to read the whole thread tonight - is the Mean Girls Caucus back in action?
Judy did I hear correctly that many inches of snow are headed your way?
The past ten days I have felt like Captain Kangaroo having Bunny Rabbit and Mr Moose rain ping pong balls down on him nonstop. Life is coming at us pretty dang fast these days.
Take care - perhaps I can actually finish the October thread and catch up on this one by the end of the week, LOL!