November 13 – Helping Correct Someone with Kindness
317 – Helping Correct Someone with Kindness

#faithbites #faithjourney correct

Here’s a shocker for all of you: I am not perfect. I eat too much, don’t exercise enough, yell more than I should, and am not always the most pleasant person to be around. Sure, I apologize when I do wrong and seek forgiveness, but I am far from perfect. I am open to being corrected when it is done in a kind and loving manner. When it isn’t, not only does it not work, it damages the relationship and causes more discord than a kind word.

I asked my doctor for some help with my knee as it hasn’t been getting any better. I asked about medicine and a possible new brace. His response was the brace I am already using is what they recommend and that they could refer me to a weight loss surgeon to try to get some of the weight off the knee. That was the response? No medications and no nutrition talk. Just go to the weight loss surgeon. I thought the point was for me to put off surgery as long as I could on my knee rather than do a different surgery. Could that be an answer? Sure it could. But is that the first step and to do that in an email? No. This is where some kindness and compassion could help.

Scripture
  • Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.- 2 Timothy 4:2
  • Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
  • “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.- Leviticus 19:17
Reflection

We all make mistakes and commit sin. It is our job to love one another and help them with complete patience and teaching. Forgive someone’s wrongdoings without hate and reason frankly with them. When we see someone err, we should be ready to provide constructive feedback in a loving and friendly manner. When we give it in anger or try to “fix” someone, we only hurt the relationship.

Sure, I need to lose weight. I get it. I could be talked to, reasoned with, given a plan for attack, and work the plan. But to drop a bomb like that, doesn’t help. In fact, it makes me want to go eat a big bowl of ice cream.

We have situations every day where we need to provide feedback to help others. Sometimes they will take the feedback, other times they won’t. Having a strong relationship is founded by being able to help each other grow. When you help them grow, grow with kindness.

Charge

How do you provide feedback? Do you provide it in a way to seek retribution? Maybe you want them to feel bad or know they did wrong? Think about how you would receive that feedback. Then think about how to rephrase that in a way that can give the kindness of the Lord.

Lord, help others correct me with a warm heart and kindness. Give me the knowledge to correct others in the same manner. Let us all growth through constructive feedback together.

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