"Good morning! I am very thankful to be alive and a part of your life. You are what makes life for me very rich. The older I get the more I realize how short life really is, therefore, I'm taking the time today to celebrate what you mean to me. As I pondered my very own past this morning, I come to realize I had very few people who actually celebrated my life enough to speak into it so that I would be better equipped for living as grew up. Yet, I do recall there was plenty who criticized everything I did. Maybe this is why I'm so adamant to write to you each day with words of insight and reflection to what I've learned along the way of life; though I would admit, its been hard at times for me growing up, I won't waste time now crying over it where I end up spewing out nothing but hurts at others as though that will make me feel better about myself, it won't! Therefore, I want to add to you, not criticize you. Lets talk about that, criticism.
Its been said, one ought to examine himself for a very long time before thinking of condemning others. It is here that one might discover something about themselves. Or you could say it in the words of the old Indian Proverb, never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins. It seems that criticism is the easiest and most used verbal tool in our conversational chest. Yet, it is the most destructive tool, especially if the user is not wise and skilled with knowing when its use would be useful to help, rather than tear down. In fact, criticism is the disapproval of people, and its not for them having faults, but having faults different from your own. Zig Ziglar once quoted, there has never been a statue erected to honor a critic. As a matter of fact, the one who throws dirt at others always loses ground where they are standing. This is why so many are sinking where they are standing.
Someone once said that brilliant people talk about ideas. Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people. Criticism is hard to swallow when its constant and never ending from some folks. All of us could take a lesson from the weather, it pays no attention to criticism. There is only one way to handle the ignorant and malicious critic. Ignore him. The Bible teaches that we are to guard our heart above all else because the issues of life will come out of it. If you always let criticisms into your heart, that's all that will ever come out of it. Truthfully, I think its all about two things when you consider the person who is a trier and the one who is a critic, those who try -- do. Those who can't -- criticize. In conclusion, H.A. Ironside tells it right, if what they are saying about you is true, mend your ways. If it isn't true, forget it, and go on and serve the Lord." ~Dad~ |
