“It is endless to dispute upon everything that is disputable.” William Penn It was easy to make a picture crooked so my relative could straighten it when she visited, but I wasn’t as clever to avoid verbal disputes. It was as if she felt it was her role to correct anything that didn’t agree with her perspective. But even when we shared the same views, she would add something to my comments, making it sound like I had mistakenly omitted an important detail. At other times she would make definitive statements as if she was a talk show host that needed to make exaggerated statements in order to incite listeners to call the radio station. But sitting around a holiday dinner table is not the time for heated debates. On more than one occasion a topic would stir my anger so much so that I couldn’t leave it alone. Either I would take the bait, and conversation would escalate to argument before the green beans got cold; or I would writhe in frustration, barely able to speak on any subject the rest of the meal. If I was more restrained, we would get into it while washing dinner dishes. It took years to learn to curb my emotions. Real growth came when I began to recognize her comments weren’t personal toward me. She had a handicap in her manner of speaking—to everyone. Unfortunately ‘agree to disagree’ was not in her vocabulary. It was her loss, but not my fault. Is there someone in your life that is exasperating? Have you taken the bait too often when topics were evoked? How does your perspective of that person need to change to free you from the ‘debating society’?
Lord, help me to see through Your eyes and recognize that the other person is just challenged in appropriate social discourse, and it’s not an invitation for me to dispute everything said. Amen “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” Proverbs 11:22 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: William Penn (1644-1718), an English philosopher, Quaker, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania; most noted for his non-violent battles for religious freedom, successful treaties with Native Americans, and establishment of the Pennsylvania Framework of Government which became the basis of the United States Constitution. Penn also urged for a union of English Colonies, which later became the United States; and for the United States of Europe, which much later became the European Community.
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WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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