Controlled Speech!

I’m tired. I had a very few hours of sleep last night and needed to be up at six this morning to complete projects that I could not finish yesterday. When a busy day follows limited sleep our guard is weakened and we need to be vigilant to ensure we are as gracious as we need to be. It is then that disciplines prove their value. Trained responses take over and we can be deliberate in our responses, ensuring our words are the kind that would be welcome to those we need to interact with.

There’s nothing more volatile than when exhausted and we do not take time to count our words, and to respond to someone who, for whatever reason, is drained, worn-out and impatient in their manner of communication.

Being well rested fortifies our resolve, and serves as a buffer allowing a calculated and practices response to how we hear and diffuse sharp and impatient words. Rested allows for us to minimize anxious words and cover their injurious intent. It gives us time to consider how to respond with kindness and grace.

How do you respond when someone as tired as you are has no control over their words, tone, and actions? Do you respond in like manner? An impatient tone and cutting words. Or does your attitude, your demeanor stink? You approach others with a coldness that silences them. And you reinforce the barrier with continued icy glances.

Today, I was forced to interact with a young woman whose attitude was chilly. She was cold and oh so very unfriendly. Although tired, I refused to succumb and respond in like manner. I was determined to win her attitude and fan her charm. I knew she could be sweet of tone with a gentle attitude, if she tried. Can you?

When overly tired, can you be gracious and patient with others? Can you be kind and encouraging, inviting their behavioral change? I know, if I can, so can you! Will you try?

• Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

• Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).

• Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:6-8).

• Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).

#speech #tired