Tuesday, March 20, 20178

SABRINA It seems everywhere we turn, there are opposing views on everything. From religion and politics to sports and entertainment. Media has seemed to cause an escalation, in that the louder and angrier we make our stance against one another, the more attention we get. John 1:14 reminds us Jesus came in TRUTH and GRACE. While we should stand for those things we feel strongly about, it does not give us the right to degrade another person, whether Christian or not. Somewhere along the way, we have chosen to live out the untrue words we learned on the playground – sticks, and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. Words DO hurt; they can breed animosity, hatred, and resistance to change. Listening to another person’s view, desiring to learn WHY they feel the way they do, validate their concerns – will it CHANGE their views and way of thinking? In most cases, probably not. We say we are speaking out of love, but often our words, tones, and actions say the opposite. We can stand for the truth we believe, but it is never okay to use it as an excuse to be unkind. Let us go into this day with an open mind, heart, choosing our words carefully and be part of the change our country so desperately needs.