How Rude!

Have you ever had someone interrupt you when you are talking? Of course you have. We all have. In fact, we've all probably been the one interrupting from time to time. But I'm not talking about an occasional interruption usually caused by excitement. I'm talking about the person who rarely allows you to finish a sentence without stomping on your words. It is incredibly frustrating. They think they know what you are going to say and try to finish for you but they are usually way off base. Then they get upset at you when you have to repeat what you were saying. I always think "How rude!" when someone does that to me or to someone else.  I recently was in the room with two people who were interrupting each other! It was a wild conversation for sure. Wouldn't it be nice if people would be considerate of others? I mean, we all like to be heard. Is it too much to ask to let people finish a sentence before beginning to speak yourself? And at those times when we are interrupted, we need to step back and take a breath. Don't get angry. That's not going to solve the problem. I know me. I want to shout back "Hello! Will you just be quiet and let me finish!?" My gracious Lord covers my mouth and reminds me that I am to be slow to anger just as the offender is to be slow to speak.

Let's take the time to listen to others. I mean really listen. Stop thinking about where you think the conversation is going or what your reply will be and just listen. I am a firm believer that God gave us 2 ears and only 1 mouth because He wants us to listen twice as much as we speak. The book of James has quite a bit to say about controlling the tongue, speaking and listening. We would be wise to heed those words of wisdom.

Blessings,
Teresa