Kind Correction
Reflection
While making small talk with a colleague this week, I commented on the wet, cold, and lousy weather outside. He lifted his eyebrows and responded simply, “After two months of no rain, I am grateful for it,” and he walked to grab his lunch. Immediately, thoughts tumbled forth: “Give me a break! I was just trying to make conversation. Well, I still think the weather is terrible! I hate the cold. We may need rain, but it doesn’t need to be so cold and dreary.” My thoughts had rapidly created a self-righteous, self-protective internal dialogue. His quick response, though, has kept me thinking since our brief interaction. Yes, the weather was less than perfect. Yes, I was chilly. Yes, I was trying to make conversation. But why didn’t I share his perspective and see the rain as a welcome guest, like he did?
Application
My colleague’s brief response served as a kind correction. Confident that his comments had little to do with putting me in my place, the Lord used his words as a catalyst for reflection. Quick chats about the rain or expressing my displeasure with the temperature were not the issue. Instead, my penchant for focusing on what wasn’t good, right, or lovely had consequences. My focus turned to thoughts, which landed on my lips. Hear the words of Jesus in Luke 6:45:
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good things and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
This passage follows Christ’s message about trees and fruit, in which He reminds us that “no good tree doesn’t bear bad fruit nor does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.”
How are we being intentional so that out of the overflow of our hearts, we speak words that bring life and light to others? I love Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians, which provides insight into answers to this question.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
Closing/conclusion
Today, it rained again. I was cold, and the sky was cloudy and gray. Today, I found other topics to talk about. I sought ways to encourage. I thanked God for His kind correction that allows me to choose a better way. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) I thanked God for His love and for surrounding me with His holy people who help me be a better tree with better fruit - not for my praise or my sake, but for the benefit of others. Where might you be hearing kind correction?
Maryellen Berry