Conversation Fruit
Her: "Car!" Him: "Truck." Her: "CAR!" Him: "Truck."Her: "CAARRRRR! IT'S. A. CAARRRRR! UGH!"The two-year-old was smiling. The four-year-old was not."Mum, he says EVERYTHING is a truck. But it's NOT TRUE. And he keeps saying it over and over!" She was so frustrated.Thus began a little chat about Conversation Fruit. She was wide-eyed and quiet. She listened and heard.
We talked about conversations that grow good fruit like joy, life, love, wisdom. And conversations that grow bad fruit like despair, division, frustration, bitterness.
We talked about relationships with people who are still learning and are not truly able to understand the debate.
We talked about walking away from arguments that are going nowhere. And about hearing the Holy Spirit for when to stay.
And as we talked, my ears heard too. A little girl, and a grown woman. No matter how young or old we are, we need training in wisdom, godly relationships and Holy Spirit guidance.Today I'm considering my conversation modus operandi. The soapboxes I've accrued. The quotes I love. The debates I'm passionate about. My fighting dogs.
Have we become so entrenched in our ways that we have forgotten to listen to the Holy Spirit in each day, each relationship, each situation, each conversation?
Each day, each relationship, each situation, each conversation. With the Holy Spirit there is Life. Without Him there is not. That's huge.
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with - even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. (Rom 14:1 The Message)... solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ... avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. (2 Timothy 2:14 & 16-17a NASB)Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. ... with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; (2 Cor 6:4a & 6 The Message)