Careful Hearing

S ~ Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. (Ecclesiastes 7:21 NKJV)

O ~ What an interesting scripture; it has reminded me of when Lucy read the book in the magicians home she was not supposed to read. She listened in on a conversation about her, that hurt her very much. Aslan explained why the girl said what she said, and Lucy understood. People say things they don't mean, mean things they don't say, and speak before they think.

A ~ It seems to me that this is a very applicable scripture - a little nugget of wisdom on how to go through life. Don't let hurtful comments stick. Even though words are powerful, don't give them more power than they deserve. If I hear, or remember, something unkind someone has said about me, remember the person ~ not the words. Remember I have no idea what they were going through when they said it, their motivation for saying it, or their actual meaning. It's a little bit, a very little bit, like 'Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing.' It sure seemed like they knew, as they drove the spikes into the hands of Jesus. I've said things about people I don't really mean - even just yesterday; and hoped they would never hear what I said, for I didn't really mean it - but it could have done irreparable damage.

P ~ Lord Jesus, please help me to hear what people say about me, and learn from it - not be hurt by it. And please help me to be careful and kind with my words. Amen