Communication: Proceed With Caution

COMMUNICATION: PROCEED WITH CAUTION 

Two-way Communication 

Counselors try to follow this rule. That’s why they often give feedback on what they think they heard. Even the short range from your lips to their ears leaves room for miscommunication.

Whether we choose to talk things out or write them out, there is a catch. It’s our eyes and ears. Sometimes they fail us.

For example, you may not listen extremely carefully while talking with a person you fully trust. That’s what happened in a story I wrote called *Duped by One Letter. 

Listen Carefully

Years ago, between places of ministry, my husband was seeking some temporary work. After prayer, he met with a Christian business man regarding a job that would fit his non-ministry skills.

After hearing the job requirements, my husband shared what he was looking for in the way of an hourly wage. When the man said, “We could do that,” my husband accepted the job.

On pay day my husband received less than expected. He went to talk to the owner and was shocked to hear him say, “I said we COULD do that. I didn’t say we WOULD do that.”

Letters Come Before Words

Young children can be excited to learn that cat can be turned into bat, pat, or sat. But in the adult world, changing one letter can lead to large consequences.

Filling the financial gap was a challenge, but so was dealing with our attitudes. We felt deceived. But we had our own one-letter challenge. We needed to turn bitter into better.

Thumbs Up to a NEW Year 

Anyone familiar with the Lord’s Prayer knows that as we forgive those who do us wrong, God forgives us the wrong we do against Him. On that basis we chose to forgive. We prayed over our finances, my husband did his best on the job every day and the money stretched to meet our needs.

In this NEW year of communication, proceed with caution. Listen carefully, speak truthfully, and if deceived don’t be bitter. Move forward with forgiveness and make it better.

*REFLECTIONS: Inspirational Stories from Everyday Life, 

Darlis Sailors, BookLocker.com, 2016, ISBN: 978-1-63491—730-8.