8/28/2023 0 Comments Actions are louder than words![]() Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. The Bible actually says that genuine Christian love means we assume good in others and not bad. So much pain and confusion can be created when we make false/negative assumptions about others. ![]() Give the person an opportunity to explain their actions before you make assumptions. So here is my thinking … next time before you interpret the actions of someone else, be sure to verify with that person what actually happened. There could be literally hundreds of reasons why Bob walked right past Joe without saying anything. We interpret the actions of others to mean one thing or another, and yet we really have very little information to back up those assumptions.īefore Joe writes off his friend Bob, Joe has an obligation to ask Bob what happened and why he just walked right by. Too many of us, when we lack information, make assumptions to fill in the blanks. But, we grab hold of this proverbial statement and we make assumptions. We have no idea why Bob walked right by Joe without saying hello. Bob shouldn’t tell people that he appreciates them if they aren’t going to treat them well. The next day when Joe is talking to another friend, the subject of Bob comes up and Joe tells his friend “well actions speak louder than words.” What Joe is suggesting is that Bob is all talk and no action. Joe is hurt that Bob didn’t even take the time to say hello. Bob has often told Joe how much he appreciates him. Joe sees his friend Bob coming his way and hopes to talk to him. Joe is standing in a lobby at a conference. This phrase that “actions speak louder than words” has started to rub me the wrong way. So what kind of actions are those? Do the actions speak? Do they speak good or ill? We could easily interpret and just as easily misinterpret those actions. Some children only maintain contact out of obligation, or what they can get out of the relationship. In fact the visits, the actions are in this case potentially are deceptive. Are the visits an expression of love and care? In some cases I would argue they are not. For example, I know in point of fact that there are children that don’t like their parents, but they go to visit them regularly. Sometimes I think that perhaps we apply it in situations that aren’t appropriate. I wonder though if this proverbial statement is perhaps relied on a little too much. The truth is that it is hard to believe a person unless there is action to go with it. The statement rings so true in a world where we hear people tell lies all the time, making promises they can’t keep, boasting about things they haven’t done, etc. Usually when people make this kind of statement, they are pointing out that words can be empty. Over the years, I have often appreciated the proverbial statement that “actions speak louder than words.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |