Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Too bad the Vikings had such a big loss!! EmojiToday I am going to bake and to go to Aldi’s and to my exercise class.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
There are times that something just clicks in your mind as you read it and you want to say, “Amen!” I would like to share what a therapist, Catherine O’Neill had to say in my favorite magazine about how to handle criticism like Jesus did. It spoke truth to me and maybe will also help you when you feel attacked or receive subtle criticism by others. She uses the parable of Anthony de Mello gave of feeling like a coconut was thrown at you when facing criticism. How do we respond?  Jesus of course, knew how to handle criticism, for he was called many nasty things like blasphemer, drunkard, glutton, etc.

One way we may react when criticism hits us is to throw the coconut back and retaliate, or at least duck. But it is better to catch it with both hands and examine it. Is it ripe with sweet milk and we can use it in our dinner menu, or is it headed for the compost pile? How do we know? The first question to ask is: do I think it to be true? It may be only their opinion and they may hardly know us, or maybe have different values than ours. So we discern if it is valid or if it is an attack to hurt us and get even with us.

But if we think it is true, it could be a gift to help us to see our blind spots. We can actually thank them for their criticism, for it opens our eyes and is a chance for us to improve and grow. We can take time to reflect on their remark, and if it is not valid we need to discard it. Then it is harmless and we have peace. Jesus, of course, did not let others’ views detour Him, for He healed on the Sabbath, ate with friends they would not approve of but His Father did, and provided wine but was not a glutton or drunk. He did whatever His Heavenly Father told Him, not what others thought.

Let us also be free from the disapproval of others and not always try to meet their expectations, but be open to what the Lord has to say to us.

Challenge for today: The next time you get a negative word, catch the coconut and discern if you are to discard it or learn from it.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy