Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
25 September, 1996 - Singapore
Good Morning!
HARSHNESS or GENTLENESS
Recently I had lunch with a businessman at a downtown cafe. At
the next table sat a family with three pre-schoolers.
Carrying on a conversation was next to impossible as the children
screamed, whined, and spilled their food. One of the boys I noticed,
struggled to keep from vomiting up his food. The mother, obviously
irritated over the situation, took her middle finger and thumped
him on the cheek, followed by verbal abuse and harsh looks.
The boy's lip quivered as he choked back the tears.
Amidst this cacophony of confusion, the businessman told of
his sense of exhaustion. As his church's senior elder, he receives
scant recognition or appreciation from his spiritual leaders,
coupled with a regular flow of letters of criticism from the congregation.
IT WAS APPARENT THAT THIS MAN'S BORDERLINE BURNOUT CAME
NOT FROM OVERWORK, BUT FROM THE LACK OF AFFIRMATION.
As the family finished their meal, the parents sauntered on
ahead toward the exit, seemingly impervious to the children, who
tagged behind with out-stretched arms, tearfully seeking their
parents' affirmation and embrace.
As I headed for my car I could not help but muse, "A lot
of similarities here between this deeply hurt businessman, and
these anguished little children."
Surely we must ask ourselves the question, "How
are we treating the weaker among us...those who fail to meet
our expectations or standards of excellence? With censoring
HARSHNESS, or with compassionate GENTLENESS?
Perhaps we should keep in mind Paul's instructions,
"We who are strong ought to bear
with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each
of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."
(Romans 15:1,2)
We know how Jesus treated little children and how He responded
to the less than perfect disciples: With GENTLENESS and
COMPASSION.
And it should be our way as well.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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