Thursday... There may be another side.

Thursday... There may be another side.

We usually only see one side to a situation and of course we are right. It is the only way to see it. But my dad had a saying that really makes sense. He would say, "No paper is so thin that it doesn't have two sides to it." I have used that over and over in my life.

Proverbs 18:17 (NLT) says, "The first to speak in court sounds right - until the cross-examination." So many arguments could be resolved if we would just listen, listen, listen and then strive to understand. Verse 19 says, "An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars." Arguments stop by one side starting to listen to the other side.

Verse 21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." And we so much love to talk, and talk and talk.

Have you ever stopped and listened to what your husband, your wife, your son,, your daughter, your parents, your friend, your neighbor thinks? 

Most arguments are stopped when one side stops telling over and over their side and stops talking and starts listening to the other side. It doesn't mean they are right and you are wrong or the opposite is true, it just means that we have shown the other person the courtesy of listening to their side, there perspective.

Now here is another good one. Verse 24 says, "There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."

The Psalms in the Old Testament are full of people that God allows to tell their side and then God tells his side. But many times he doesn't do it with condemnation. He does it with understanding and compassion.

Over in Matthew 20, there were two blind men who were yelling, trying to get Jesus' attention. Now there was a big crowd following Jesus and verse 31 said, "'Be quiet!' the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" And then verses 32-34 said, "When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, 'What do you want me to do for you?' 'Lord' they said, 'we want to see!' Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him." It made all the difference when he stopped and asked them a question and listened to the answer.

He wants to hear our side and he wants us to listen to his. It really, really makes a difference. Listen, there may be another side and it makes all the difference to stop talking and listen. And asking a question is a great way to start. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning