DISAGREEMENTS – DEVOTIONAL
Howdy Friends! “Ya know it’s not that terrible. But darn, I wish just some of the time my boss would come around to see why I’m right and he’s wrong.” I heard myself tell Grandpop. I wasn’t sure he got the message so I added, “I do know what I’m doing after all. And a little recognition would be nice.”
I’d come up for the weekend see Grandpop. It wasn’t like he needed my help, my brother had taken the reigns of the outfit about ten years ago already. It was more like I needed to vent, and Grandpop usually was a help. I’d been wrestling for some time with new management at work, and it sure seemed they were dead set on thinking I didn’t know my way around.
Grandpop set the saddle on its stand and started to rub down the mare. “You got all the answers I reckon.”
I tried not to notice his grin. I concentrated on rubbing my own horse down. It had been a long ride. “I think I know more than they give me credit. And at least as much as most of them.”
“You might.” Grandpop draped his arms over the tall mare’s back. “You just might.” He paused. “But then again ya just might learn a bit from ‘em too.”
“Learn from them? I’ve been there longer than half of them! I want to make a change. I’m tired of the way it’s been going. I’m looking to shake things up. That’s what a good employee does, isn’t it?” Right then I figured Grandpop simply didn’t get the point.
Grandpop finished cooling down the mare and turned her out in the pasture. “Probably. Sure.” He said. Then he turned and gave me a solid stare. “Unless what yer tryin’ ta change don’t need changin’. Or what yer tryin’ ta change they’s already workin’ on and you just don’t know about it. That happens sometimes when a body is all focused on what they think and don’t have room for somebody else’s opinion.”
“Some of this stuff is pretty obvious.” I said.
“Maybe. From your perspective.” Grandpop took my horse and turned him out in the pasture. Then he sat on a hay bale.
“Ya see, Son, just about everybody sees things from their point of view. And we all spend a lot of time convincing ourselves we’re right smack on correct. That’s not the deal, Son.”
“What do you mean? Not the deal.”
“A lot of the time, being convinced of our opinion is a great thing. Some of the time, it’s not so great. The deal is to do whatever it takes to figure out, are we in the right, or in the wrong, or in the now’s not the time or place pasture.” He tossed me his ‘Listen to me now’ grin. “You go off like a runnin’ horse all full of steam before you know the whole deal, ya just might get stuck in a mud puddle ya never knew was out there.”
I gave him my full attention.
“Ya see, Son, disagreements come along all the time. At work, in marriage, out in the world. Heck disagreements are as much a part of life as ice cream and apple pie. How a man handles them is what proves him to be a fool, or a wise man.” He chuckled out loud, “That’s the tricky part. And that’s how folks will look at ya. It’s up to us, how we paint our own portrait. The good Lord told us a little about that when He talked about gauging a tree by it’s fruit.”
~ Gitty Up, Dutch.
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Bible Verse – Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they succeed.”
Bible Verse – Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 11:2 – “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Bible Verse – 1 Corinthians 16:14 -“Do everything in love.”
Bible Verse – Romans 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 18:13 – “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.”
Bible Verse – James 1:5 –“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Bible Verse – James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 4:7 – “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Bible Verse – 1 Peter 5:5 – “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
