Tag: Forgive

Try, Listen, Think, Wait, Forgive

One of my favorite quotes has no known author, ”Before you quit, try. Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticize, wait. Before you move on, forgive.”

These five suggestions are powerful.

Do we quit before we really give it a try?
Do we dominate the conversation without really listening?
Do we react, only to think later that we should have thought it through?
Do we jump to conclusions and criticize others?
Do we move on, but carry a grudge?

More could be said, but when we follow each of these suggestions, our lives and the lives of others will be richer.

Do We Make People Better?

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” Marvin J. Ashton

One of the most endearing and powerful qualities of good leaders, and Christians in general, is the ability to make the lives of others better.

Our world is one that promotes more self-centeredness than anything else. The concept and practice of seeking the best in other people and putting their needs above our own is rare. Yet, this is exactly what God did in sending His only Son to die on our behalf.

We do well to follow the example in our relationships with others.

One of the most important lessons from years past is that when something is borrowed, always return it better than you received it. What a great idea for our relationships with others. God entrusted us with the lives of people around us and nothing more enduring can be done than to make their lives better than we found them. This is great leadership!