February 6. You Do Not or You Will Not Say?

Have you heard the expression, "So you don’t say"? I have heard it used before when someone was confirming what they did hear. Did you hear that there was an accident on the hi-way? You don’t say? It is a request for another confirming statement.

As a leader, there is a lot of communication that occurs by what we do not say. How engaged are we really being when we do not say? When we keep the words in our minds are we helping the situations where value is not being brought forth?

How do we fully bring resources and value to our team and customers if we do not say? We often bring judgment instead of value and are willing to tell others about it. Perhaps as a leader we can be careful not to bring judgment on others as the way to start our conversations.

Is that what we are used to having been brought to us? Maybe we are setting the example for it. Maybe it is because we are the ones who are not communicating an emphasis on value. Maybe it is a filter that we have. But remember, not all our filters were built correctly.

Filters need changed like we change in our leadership growth and capability. So, what do you say, where can you verbalize your value today?

In Matthew 23 and 24, we can see Christ sharing his words with us. I cite these chapters because the words are very intentional. They are shared, communicated, and given away to us as gifts to hear and lock in our hearts and minds. There is not much left unsaid here.

We do not remember Christ for what he did not say but what he did say. It was a life that he taught and showed but not about what he kept inside to himself. So, what is trapped in your mind or heart that you are not letting out?

One of our largest assets as followers of Christ could possibly be that we can approach others and be approachable. We can speak without judgment but curiosity and love. The tongue may be the most powerful muscle in the human body.

I think we should use that muscle to speak as Jesus taught us. The cultures around the world could use a little more talk that would follow those parameters. All those cultures’ words could start with one person sharing a kind word. I think that may be a variant of the golden rule.

So not saying is really a big thing, would you not say? What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, you say and speak to us throughout the Bible and through the Holy Spirit. You have let it be known how to love. Sometimes we allow the unspoken to dominate our thoughts and behaviors.

Help us today to respond to one another in a respectful and loving relationship first. Let us put our judgment of the sin aside and be able to love the sinner. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen,