Today’s scripture: Proverbs 25:21-22 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):
The book of Proverbs was a guide written for Jewish men on how to best live their lives. Some of the verses are relics of their culture and are pretty hilarious. Many are utterly timeless and profound, as is today’s passage. How better to disarm your enemies than to just be nice to them?
I remember when I was in sales training. I was in a conference room with my supervisor talking to a customer and his wife about our products. Talking about me, the customer looks to his wife and said, “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about!”
If I had let my ego take over the situation, I likely would have lost my job right then and there. Instead, I simply said, “You’re right. I don’t know everything about our products; I’m in training and just now learning.” You could see the wind go out of the guy’s sail. The customer, a skeptical elderly man, who was on the verge of getting up to walk out, sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. He and his wife sat for the rest of my presentation, and even signed on the dotted line — I made the sale! Later, my supervisor congratulated me for the nice save.
It truly is amazing how being nice can change how people act. Sometimes the hardest of hearts are only looking for a little gentleness.
Thought for the day: Lord, let me be gentle and pass on your love to everyone who needs it today. Especially, Lord, to those who need it the most.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.