Gentle Answer Is Power (15)

Doggy training is no fun, especially when you’ve been out of it for awhile.  Okay, sure their playfulness makes it seem somewhat worth it, but they are so much work.  When we received our first dog, Coco, she was rather well-behaved.  Besides the few messes and barking in the house at first, she has become a very well-trusted dog in our home.  She loves company, loves to cuddle; she’s a licker if I’ve ever seen one.  Get ready to be loved on by her.  She’s been in our home for nearly four years now.  But, as of recent, we picked up Maggie (formerly Molly), a twelve week-old Border Collie mix pup.  She’s just adorable, but boy does she have a lot to learn.  Melissa and I have been reading up on how to train her, finding tips to keep her focused on us, but most importantly knowing how and when to speak to the dog.

But the little gal sure knows how to wipe you out.  Training a dog is almost like trying to keep track of a crawler who just learned how to walk.  Everything better be out of reach or you’ll be picking up many remains of what used to be intact.  The dog/child tests your ability to withstand breaking your valuables and trust.  Interestingly, do you know people who try to do the same to you?  They try to break what is valuable to you, your patience, and maybe even your integrity?

This devotion is short because the message He has for me is short: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  My pup needs help learning what to do and doesn’t understand what’s valuable to me.  Her attention is easily directed to me when I speak softly, kindly, and when I praise her often for things that deserve praise; however, when if I speak harshly to her or attempt to punish her, she runs away.  That has only happened a few times.  Now when she doesn’t do what I want her to do, I am usually gentle in my responses, and few times gently firm, allowing her to build trust with me.  In the same way, I must be gentle with others, just like Jesus was.  He was always known for speaking with authority (Mark 1:27; 3:15) and yet his responses to the lost were gentle.  Those not saved trusted him. 

The only conclusion I can see is to imitate Jesus in my responses. Gentleness should precede every word and, when I desire to hold back grace and scold another, I ask Him to nudge me toward prayer.  For I know I still have a long way to go before this character trait of His becomes my own.

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath, 
   but a harsh word stirs up anger.

² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, 
   but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

³ The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, 
   keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

⁴ The soothing tongue is a tree of life, 
   but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, 
   but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Proverbs 15:1-5

15 days!