Saturday, May 12, 2012

A WORD TO THE WISE: Proverbs 26: 20 (The 3rd Kid)

Proverbs 26: 20     Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Proverbs 26:20. Every time.  Ev-er-y time as a school administrator I deal with a fight or major argument between 2 kids I end up dealing with a 3rd kid. 

The 3rd kid didn’t throw a punch/ didn’t participate in the argument.  He/she might not have even been present for the conflict.  “All” the 3rd kid did was tell Kid A what he/she heard that Kid B said he/she thought about Kid A--- and vice versa.
The 3rd kid rarely comes out and tells anybody to go confront anybody else.  The 3rd kid just passes along hearsay, opinions, and a bit of editorial.

Removing the 3rd kid from the equation doesn’t change the fact that Kid A thinks Kid B is stank, nor does it alter Kid B’s opinion that Kid A’s boy/girlfriend could do better.

But, remove the 3rd kid and the other 2 manage to breathe the same air without trying to murder one another.  In other words---- There is peace.

(Peace does not require friendship.)

This phenomenon is just as true for adults. 

Check your sources.
Are you continually getting into conflicts because people keep talking behind your back?   Think:  How do you know what they supposedly said if they’ve only said it behind your back?   Who’s behind your back, running up in your face with information?

Remove the 3rd kid from your space for a few months and see if there isn’t a decrease in the  level of drama in your life.

Check your calendar.
Do your spouse & you always get into an argument the day after you and a certain friend hang out?

Is there somebody who “helps you out” by showing you how you aren’t really happy and your husband/wife isn’t really as good to you as you thought they were?

Remove the 3rd kid from your space for a few months.  Then compare the level of peace and harmony in your home without them to what is was with them around.

Check yourself.
Are all your friends from 2 years ago now enemies with one another? Can you write down a long list of formerly married friends whom you advised on their relationships?   When Person A shares their personal opinion about Person B do you immediately want to tell/text Person B what you heard?

Remove yourself from other folks’ business and relationships.  Take a few months to mind your own business, and then take a few more to leave other folks business alone.

See if they don’t find greater peace.  Maybe you will, too.
----- Anderson T. Graves II
 
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church
Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
Friend Pastor Graves at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves
If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order made out to: Hall Memorial CME Church
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Rd.,
Montgomery, AL 36116

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