Do You React or Respond?
One night, Timothy went to check on his children after he had put them to bed and he stopped short of the door because he heard them talking. The discussion just about broke his heart.
Zach said, “Rusty, I don’t like school.” His big brother, who was 8 at the time, tried to console him by asking why. Zach said, “It’s too long, and we do work all day.” Rusty said, “Zach, that’s what school is for.”
Zach was quiet for a moment and said, “Well, I don’t like it. I wish I was a baby again.”
Now, Timothy wanted to just run in there and hold him saying, “It’s okay, buddy, you’re never going to have to go to that school again!” OR “We’ll find a school with a shorter day.”
Oh, he really felt like doing that. His heart wanted to do that. But if he had rescued him then, when would he have ever learned to make it without dad?
Let me ask you…When your child encounters difficulty, say at school, how do you react? Do you react or do you respond?
Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
How do you react or respond to situations in your daily life? There’s a co-worker who is extremely negative. Every time they speak, it’s always bad or negative news.
This person never has anything nice to say about anyone or anything, and all day long you are forced to listen to his or her negative chatter.
Do you react or do you respond? If you’re in react mode, this person makes you angry, irritated, and frustrated. Having to listen to all that negative talk starts to make you think and talk negatively. That’s a reaction. It’s your automatic involuntary behavior.
But you are a child of God!
At one time my wife encountered such a boss. He would walk into the office and grunt if you told him good morning. When he appeared the entire office felt heavy and sad. Everyone was afraid of him.
One day, my wife reacted instead of responding and called me crying. It was just too much negativity to bear.
I encouraged her, reminding her she was there as a child of God for a reason. She’s there to change the spiritual atmosphere, not the other way around. She can crush that negative spirit and bring the joy of the Lord.
The next day, when he walked in sour and angry and grunted at her, she walked into his office, smiled, and said, “what happened, did you drink a cup of lime juice this morning?”
He was surprised at the question and looked at her and asked why did she say that.
From that morning forward, his disposition was different. everyone in the office was surprised at the change.
And, when he did come in sour and negative, instead of reacting, she would approach him, being led by the spirit, saying something positive.
God wants us to be the catalyst for change. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to respond instead of react.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).
Let us Pray:
Heavenly Father, your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. Abba Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, lead me and guide me to respond and not just react to the situations I face daily.
Guide my words, thoughts and deeds. May they be words of encouragement and blessing to others. May I show your love daily in the way I respond to others. In Jesus’ precious and glorious name I pray, Amen.