Gracious Speech in Divisive Times

You ever look at someone else and think or say to yourself, “Oh my word, what are they thinking?”. How about “what an idiot!”. Ha, I’m pretty sure I do it daily...But here’s the thing; no matter how stupid the actions, political views, etc. seem to us, it makes perfectly good sense to them. When we don’t take time to understand others’ viewpoints, we rush to hasty, destructive conclusions that often manifest in words we later regret. Unfortunately, we often say these things behind the person’s back. We post our opinions online or share them with a friend, not even giving our target the opportunity to respond.That’s not what God intended. Your words are your responsibility. If there’s something you don’t agree with or don’t understand, ask questions. The goal isn’t to align with the other person. The goal is to honor them. You don’t have to agree, but you should maintain a posture of respect. “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”Colossians 4:5-6 This is an election year, we are being asked to wear masks that most would agree are horrible. Everyone, everywhere has an opinion about everything. Our goal shouldn’t be to convert the opposition in so much as it is to show grace and listen.It’s ok to think, “bless their heart...”Be Nice, Grace Wins,