My grandmother always said that negative words are like weeds. Left unchecked, they will ruin any garden.
We have all been there. We get trapped in a conversation with someone who can only see the negative. Maybe it is the weather. Maybe it is politics. Maybe it is a mutual friend or acquaintance. We try to tactfully bring the conversation to a close, but somehow it continues much longer than we can handle.
Some people have a remarkable ability to find the cloud behind every silver lining.
It is easy to recognize that spirit in someone else. Our own negativity is rarely so obvious. In our voice, it often sounds like concern, discernment, or simply being realistic.
But words have roots. Repeated long enough, they begin to shape the soil of our minds. Before long, every subject becomes a complaint and every person becomes a collection of flaws.
There is plenty wrong with the world. Wisdom does not require us to ignore it. But if darkness is all we ever notice, perhaps the problem is no longer only what we are looking at. It may also be how we have trained ourselves to see.
The brighter side means seeing the good in someone before pointing out the flaws or mistakes. It means noticing what is growing before reaching for the weeds. People usually become more of what we consistently choose to see in them.
Paul wrote, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable...think about these things.”
That is more than pleasant advice. It is a discipline of the mind. We have to pull the weeds before they take over the garden.
Perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question: When people finish a conversation with me, do they feel lighter or heavier?
We may not be able to change the weather, the political climate, or the behavior of everyone around us. But we can decide what we carry into the room.
There is always darkness to discuss. There is also light to share.
“Whatever is lovely...think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8
If this encouraged you, share it with someone who could use a little more light today.
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Very good reminder! Thank you!