We've all done it, probably more than once just in the past year. It's easy to do if our initial instinct is to react. Misinterpretation of a comment or action from another can lead to wars. Wars between spouses, children, family, friends and countries. Our wounded little hearts strive for perfection, but where are we getting it wrong? When others don't lead with love, we assume we are not worthy of their love, respect or whatever emotion surfaces. We can become tense and fearful, reacting differently than we would in a calm and peaceful state. For those trying to tame their inner control freak (who me?), the best defense is to listen. If we focus on listening, our thoughts won't spew out of our mouths so quickly. Clarify any misinterpretation first by summarizing what you thought you heard . . . calmly. Then, listen again. Most of the time, it was not the intended message. If what you heard was not a misinterpretation, relax and let it go! Walk away educated for future discussions!
Yesterdays Gospel (Mark 12:18-27) reminds us to listen to and believe what Jesus is saying in Scripture and in the messages given in this apostolate:
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she advises us to be aware of what is from the enemy and what is from heaven:
Yesterdays Gospel (Mark 12:18-27) reminds us to listen to and believe what Jesus is saying in Scripture and in the messages given in this apostolate:
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she advises us to be aware of what is from the enemy and what is from heaven:
"Even the most seasoned apostle can suddenly find himself tumbling about in the grip of something that feels a bit like being a gym shoe in a clothes dryer. Such pain and confusion! This should be our first clue, of course, that we are being targeted. A fellow apostle once said, “It’s no problem once you know it’s the devil. But usually someone else has to tell you that.” How true. Who would fail to pick up a sword if someone approached them and began to duel? The enemy is more clever than that, though. The enemy comes in the form of a hurtful comment from a friend, an overdrawn bank account, a misunderstanding where our words are twisted and thrown back at us in mockery. The enemy can come dressed in perfect logic, with a superior attitude and a patronizing smile offering some “good advice.” Much of what we are asked to do as lay apostles will not make sense when measured against the world’s standards of what is right and wrong, wise or unwise. We will sometimes appear foolish if we work for heaven, particularly in the eyes of those who work for heaven but do so safely within the limits of worldly acceptance. We must always identify the author of the thoughts. My friends, the more we love God and the more we are asked to work for God, the more committed we must be to conversation with God."
Lay apostles, work on listening more and talking less today. Don't let pride get in the way of reality. Remember, the enemy can be a wolf in sheep's clothing. Stay focused on Christ in every conversation. Remembering He is with you at all times (this is a conscious effort for me!) will begin to slow your reaction time to negativity. My life is so much more peaceful and stress free nowadays!
Thank you, Lord, for helping to slow my brain down so as not to misinterpret what others are saying. Life is so much easier this way . . . sorry it took me so long to get here!
God bless,
Bonnie
Lay apostles, work on listening more and talking less today. Don't let pride get in the way of reality. Remember, the enemy can be a wolf in sheep's clothing. Stay focused on Christ in every conversation. Remembering He is with you at all times (this is a conscious effort for me!) will begin to slow your reaction time to negativity. My life is so much more peaceful and stress free nowadays!
Thank you, Lord, for helping to slow my brain down so as not to misinterpret what others are saying. Life is so much easier this way . . . sorry it took me so long to get here!
God bless,
Bonnie
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