You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
Working my frustration of the day into it chew by chew, my jaws grew weary from their work. I was chomping on gum for pleasure but my pleasure waxed to pain. Have you ever noticed the longer you chew a piece of gum, the harder it gets?
Each bite of instant replay moves forgiveness farther from my reach.
Each taste of concern over my phrasing turns my focus away from God.
The longer I chew, the more bitter my world becomes.
Conflict is inevitable so how can we communicate with others without making a midnight snack of our conversation?
Accept Responsibility
We own what we say. By taking full responsibility for our words we move from reaction mode to response. A reaction is a thoughtless, involuntary retort. A response is a God-directed, well-thought reply.
Move Toward Reconciliation
Be the first to offer forgiveness. Take the lead in healing. Leave the conversation without regret by moving toward reconciliation.
Refuse to Replay
After the conclusion of your conversation, mentally press stop. Refuse to allow your mind to dissect and dwell on every exchange. Allow grace to cover your mind and your conversation.
When we stop chewing, joy fills the spaces of our heart. We will leave the conversation, go out in joy and be led by peace.
What are you chewing on today? What would be required for you to spit it out?
