Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Tuesday 04/12/2011)

Learning To Hold My Piece….

Proverbs 17:27-28 (New Living Translation)

²⁷ A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.²⁸ Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

            My mother use to admonish us about giving people a piece of our minds. She used to say that we needed to be careful because, eventually nothing would be left.  Today was one of those days, when I thought on those words and had to remember decorum, and sometimes it is not always good to articulate every thought that we feel at every moment.  I walked into the grocery store I thought to myself, that we had all been working all day, it was hot, I better grab something quick for dinner because it had been a long day, and it promised to become longer because I had things I needed to do when I returned home.  I stood waiting to be helped, when the young man, if in his twenties, he was doing good walked up to face me, I heard him say in a gruff voice “what you need?”  I thought for sure I was hearing things, and having worked in the customer service industry for years, I knew I had to have been hearing things, so I looked at my sister, who was looking at me, with a slight smile on her face because she knew I was thinking “has this child lost his mind.”  So I turned back to the young man and said in a calm voice after taking in a very deep cleansing voice, “Excuse me?”  He said it again just as gruff and with the same amount of attitude as the first time around, “what you need.” Oh I knew at that point, I had entered the “Twilight Zone,” this could not be the test that would test my ability not to snap after the day I had, but it was, he was.  Again I looked at my sister, who now had a look of amusement and worry, realizing that a storm was brewing. So I turned back again, and took in another cleansing breath hoping that this one would clear my mind and emotions from the feelings of wanting to reach over the counter and shake him. I asked nicely for a pound of ham.  He with no gloves, went into the deli case and pulled out the ham I had requested, and turned and went over to the table in the back, where he was going to unwrap the meat, but instead of placing the hunk of ham down, he grabbed the edges of the plastic wrap and the ham flew out of the plastic wrap, bounced off the counter and onto the floor.  I did not know whether to laugh or get even more upset.  I stood there stunned as I caught my sister who was now trying to hold back a smile.  The young man picked the meat up and without a towel or gloves placed the meat on the scale and then went back to the back station where the gloves were and proceeded to place on the gloves as if preparing to slice the meat as he looked at the price chart on the back wall, as he approached the scale I held up my hand and said to the young attendant that it was okay, I was good, never mind. In those moments as we walked away from the counter I found myself repeating this statement at least three more times. I could not believe what I was seeing.  Jo (my sister) was now in full-fledged laughter.

            Whew, I was tested and tried, I promise you.  It took everything in me not to lose it in those moments.  I so wanted to give that little boy a piece of my mind, BUT GOD.  I had to remember that just because you can say something does not make it the right thing to say.  It would appear that God has been working on me holding on to the pieces of my mind that I so need to function and operate.  I have had multiple occasions in the past three weeks to snap on people because of their treatment and words towards me, or even some for their lack or words or participation. But God has had me holding my words, taming my tongue and keeping myself from acting the plum fool.  You see we do not realize that by us giving pieces of our mind and giving into petty thoughts and behaviors, we only make ourselves look foolish and we bring dishonor upon God’s kingdom. You see when we can stay holding on to our piece and maintaining peace, we look wise even when there may be foolishness looming in our mind, no one but us and God know.  But it is when we give into the pettiness, the retaliatory behaviors, the esteeming ourselves at all cost even if it hurts another, or to try to prove how smart, versed or together we are we often open mouth insert foot and then we are walking around with a foot in our mouths, looking just as foolish and stupid as ever.  That is usual an indicator that we have given away too much of our mind as it is.

            So the next time you get ready to leap on someone, look before you leap.  Think before you act.  My Baby always says, “What would Jesus do?” We need to seriously consider what would Jesus do?  Even when He was being betrayed, he didn’t say a word, even in the midst of Him being accused He said nothing to defend Himself.  When they mocked Him, and slandered Him, they did not prove who He was; He kept His piece and maintained the Peace of God that was so richly bestowed upon Him.  If we are following the pattern of Jesus, the why is it so easy for us to just snap, crackle and pop off on people?  We only use one third of our mind as it is if we are giving away the bits we are using we are going to short change ourselves.   Become one who is wise in their doing and even wiser in what they do not say!