“Can I get your opinion on something?” I asked my son.
“Why? So you can do the opposite?”Continue Reading
How to Be a Better Communicator
My journal flipped to a prayer I’d written earlier that year. “Lord, please help me become a better communicator.” I laughed out loud. I’d just poured my frustrations into my journal after another wearisome attempt to connect with my roommate. God’s answer to my prayer was not what I’d imagined.Continue Reading
No One Likes a Verbal Biter
I walked away from a conversation massaging my injured feelings. I felt like the victim of a dozen papercuts. Replaying the conversation offered no insight. What had triggered my friend’s barbs?Continue Reading
Is “If You Can’t Say Something Nice…” Biblical?
Have you heard, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all?” While this adage provides a reminder to not gossip, is it biblical?
Our family met a delightful woman in Switzerland who offered to show us around. We traveled in two cars. I rode with our new friend, and my family followed. Instead of raving about the beauty of the Swiss Alps my companion began to sing the praises of the person who’d maligned our family and other Christian leaders.
I couldn’t believe it.
Thousands of miles away from home and I had to listen to someone unwittingly praise my enemy. And worse, she encouraged others to follow this deceitful leader. Having been raised on the above adage, I prayed as I went back and forth on how to respond.Continue Reading