“We don’t put up with put downs.” As I searched my notes I ran across this quote from an unknown author. It could be a motto put to good use in homes, churches, offices or most any place we congregate.
Eliminating the negative, however, does not always create something positive. In fact, emptying does not always guarantee a filling. And then there is this: ‘hurt people, hurt people’. When we feel the sharp sting of pain from someone, we automatically strike back in kind. We could go on and on with all these quips, but to what avail? Perhaps it is easier, at times, to go round and round the mulberry bush so that we don’t have to deal with real issues. Let’s go back to the initial quote, not putting UP with put DOWNS.
Affirmation goes a long way in nurturing relationships. Put downs usually put up road blocks in communications. It may exert your ingenuity to find the positive in others, but the effort pays lasting dividends.
Do you think that failure to praise God may be interpreted by Him as a put down? When we feel betrayed by God, do we turn on Him in ignorance and arrogance?
Psalm 100 gives five directives in the same number of verses.
• Shout for joy to the LORD.
• Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs
• Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.
• Enter His gates with thanksgiving Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
• For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
When you find yourself tempted to put down someone or something pick up your Bible and read through the Psalms and see if affirmation and honor come as quickly to your tongue as did the negative opposite.
“We don’t put up with put downs”. Perhaps a good motto in every avenue of life.
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