So I Need to Quit Bugging the Q-Tip Man

I have a friend who had not posted since two days before I had lasted posted. We pestered him unmercifully until finally he posted again. So it occurs to me that I live in a glass house, and really shouldn't throw stones.

But my life, like yours, is crazy busy. And somehow taking care of my children takes precedence over blogging. At least I still have these types of priorities straight.

I'm still learning a lot about how to speak the truth in love. I'm learning that sometimes you can speak the absolute truth and even mean in it love, but if you don't package the message in a way that communicates compassion (even strong, no-nonsense compassion), then it probably won't have the intended effect. If your harshness provokes defensiveness in someone, then he or she has to work through that defensiveness in order to hear your message. Don't clog up your communication channel any more than you have to. I think that's why Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. " Don't stir up the anger already...ask questions instead of accusing...consider that you may not have all the information you need to form an opinion or judgment.

And, in unrelated news, what do you do when you are quite certain that you returned a library book but they say you didn't? It's not like I can prove I returned it...I don't have the book to show you! You have it!!!