Daily Digest #17

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. —Proverbs 27:6

Oftentimes, we perceive comments and corrections to our behavior as personal attacks. There are moments when we're so negative, that everything we see or hear is bad, and we tend to talk or fight back, even just inside our heads.... We have to give some things the benefit of the doubt. There's a big and obvious difference between constructive criticism and plain self-righteousness and sarcasm. With humility and prayer, may we learn to sort out the ones that could improve us from the ones that put us down. It's all a matter of perspective. This also stands as a test not only to us, but to our friends as well, thus telling us who among them are true....

May we thank and pray for those who have courage to correct us -- not to provoke, but to help us realize our faults and suggest ways to improve ourselves. May we pray for patience and understanding to those who simply attack us to feel good about themselves. May we pray that God strengthens our faith so we would not be overcome by bitterness, insecurity, vengeance or hatred. May we seek peace inside and around us.