You Poked My Heart

 The other day a friend posted a video showing two 3-year-olds arguing. A little girl said, "My momma says it is raining." And the little boy says, "Well, my mom told me it's sprinkling." The first little girl proceeds to say it's raining, so the little boy leans in closer to reaffirm that it is indeed sprinkling. So the little girl pokes him in the face while saying, "It's raining!" The argument continues to escalate until a little girl in the middle of them suggests they go outside to see which it is. On they argue, when the first little girl pokes the boy a second time, this time in the chest. In his sweet little voice he says, "You poked my heart."

While this is one of the cutest videos I have ever seen (you can see it here), what a precious microcosm of the argument over petty differences it is. Seriously? Raining verses sprinkling? What difference does it make? Water is falling from the sky. Folks outside are getting wet. That's 100 percent humidity no matter what. They argued for nothing. And in the end, one got poked in the heart.

That's pretty much how all those arguments end up. Someone gets poked in the heart ... over something that really doesn't make a difference.

You will get in these arguments. With each other, with friends, with acquaintances, with co-workers, with a boss, with church members, with family. It will happen. Ridiculous fights that just end up hurting hearts. I think Satan squeals with glee when he sees these arguments pop up. He knows people will get increasingly angry, getting folks to respond in unChristian-like ways. Pointing fingers, poking, hurting, nasty words, raised voices with nothing resolved.

Scripture tells us in Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This is your brother's favorite Bible verse. Imagine if when someone opposes us on something we just give a soft answer, never escalating our voices. Arguments may come to a quicker end. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."  

Learn to discuss with one another without letting it get to a point of anger, if you can. And if you do get angry, do not raise your voices. Maybe take a little break, pray, and then return to discuss. You may find the original discussion was not worth arguing about in the first place. Better to go this route,then to end up hurting hearts.

Discussion: What happens when you argue? What is proactive way for you to nip these kinds of arguments before they get worse?

Prayer: Lord, we like to stand our ground when we think we're right to the point where we could get angry and respond in a non-loving way. Father, help us to focus our eyes on You and respond to one another in love