22 September 2007 Devotion for Today “A Higher Level” Proverbs 15:1
A father I heard about recently, who was also a psychologist, was trying to get his young daughter, who was six, ready for school while his wife was away for a couple of weeks. But for the first 2 days it was a nightmare for him. She dawdled and would not cooperate or get ready. He was beginning to feel exasperated at her defiance, and one morning he had had enough of her behavior because it was making them both late. He was on his way up the stairs to punish her when it struck him, “If my daughter were one of my clients, what would I do?” So he set out to find out what was causing this behavior. He about it for a moment, and then he had it.
He walked into his daughter’s room, stooped down, and with his hands on her shoulders, looked her right I the eye. The little girl expected her daddy to scold her, but then he said, “You miss your mommy, don’t you?” Instantly she fell into his arms and began sobbing. She could not even talk, so he did. “Yes, honey, I know,” he said, “I miss her too. It is hard having mommy away, isn’t it?” And after crying in his arms for a moment, she suddenly jumped back by saying, “Come on Daddy! Its late! We have to get to school now!”
You see what that wise parent did? His empathy and love had taken her to a higher level. Had he followed his first impulse and punished his daughter, her behavior would have taken him down to her level of immaturity. Instead, his love, his tenderness, his softness put her need ahead of his and melted her heart to a better place.
Solomon tells us that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger!” (Proverbs 15:1).
To take the little girl to a higher level, the father had to get past himself, and what he wanted. You see, not giving others what they deserve is a big part of not playing fair. To give them better than they deserve is what the Bible calls grace. The word means unmerited favor, and describes exactly how God treats us. We are never more like God than when we don’t play fair, because as you know, God is not fair. He is more than fair. As the Bible says, “For when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6
How do you get people to that higher level? If you have a coworker who is not getting something done- blasting them for not doing their job is not going to help. But the successful manger will go in, close the door, and ask, “Is everything okay? It looks like you might be getting a little overwhelmed or behind in your work.” Instead of riding or nagging a teenager for his or her non-performance, the successful mom or dad will ask, “So how are things going?” Now usually what you will get is a grunt. When your husband gets short-tempered or barks at his wife, instead of barking back, the mature Christian wife is going to walk over, give him a hug and say, “A little overwhelmed today, aren’t you, dear?” The barking is answered with kindness. Take him to a higher level. It may not work every time, or in the way you want it to at first, but it’s the Christlike thing to do.
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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