(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
Imagine for a moment that somebody you love and care about is making some unwise or unhealthy decisions. (Maybe you don’t need to imagine it and you’re able to think of somebody rather quickly.)
How can you approach them to share your concern for them?
Some may try to avoid the discussion altogether. If you can avoid tension and conflict, then avoid it at all costs.
Some may confront the situation head-on. If something is true, then it’s OK to just share it. The truth is all that really matters, right?
But in most situations, neither of these approaches is best. By avoiding the discussion, you may find yourself judging them from a distance. By using the second approach, you may make the other person feel judged.
What’s the solution? Well, it isn’t easy. But you can never go wrong by sharing what is TRUE in a way that is both HELPFUL and KIND. Today, be intentional in being helpful and kind toward yourself and toward others.
READING & JOURNALING:
Have you ever experienced somebody sharing a hard truth with you in a way that was both helpful and kind? What was that experience like?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I recognize that it’s easy to think of what’s true, but it isn’t always easy to share what’s true in ways that are both helpful and kind. Continue to help me grow in being helpful and kind toward myself and toward others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence)
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