Wednesday, March 31 Thoughtless speech is like the stabs of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is a healing.​—Prov. 12:18.

[Áine]

Wednesday, March 31

Thoughtless speech is like the stabs of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is a healing.—Prov. 12:18.

 

One reason why Job’s three false comforters lacked compassion for him is that they saw only the outward appearance of his situation. As a result, they jumped to wrong conclusions and judged Job harshly. How can we avoid making a similar mistake? Realize that only Jehovah knows all the facts about a person’s situation. Listen carefully to what the suffering person says. Do more than hear his words; try also to feel his pain. Only then will you be able to show genuine fellow feeling for your brother or sister. Compassion will hold us back from spreading harmful gossip about the problems others are facing. A gossiper does not build up the congregation; he tears it down. (Prov. 20:19; Rom. 14:19) He can injure a person who is already suffering. (Eph. 4:31, 32) How much better it is when we look for a person’s good qualities and think about how we can help him or her deal with trials! w19.06 21-22 ¶8-9

[Vinnie]

Clear thinking and speaking is hard to do when our minds are filled with confusing or negative emotions. What we say may be based on past experience or  limited knowledge.  Either way it's incomplete and can leave us guessing or have our thoughts go down the wrong road. Getting to a place where we can see a person's good qualities will help  us  speak and do things that are comforting.

 

[Sister Twister]

Job at times spoke 'wildly' but Elihu listened and showed Empathy for Job. We may while dealing with a stressful situation make wild statements which could even seem disloyal to Jehovah but a loving comforter will , listen and not judge , show compassion and realise that only Jehovah really knows where the wild talk is coming  from.

 

If we act with compassion as we would want to be treated we or they may see the error and that perhaps the situation was just caused by stress , but if we gossip and think badly of the person and show no love we may lose the brother.

1 hour ago, Vinnie said:

Clear thinking and speaking is hard to do when our minds are filled with confusing or negative emotions. What we say may be based on past experience or  limited knowledge.  Either way it's incomplete and can leave us guessing or have our thoughts go down the wrong road. Getting to a place where we can see a person's good qualities will help  us  speak and do things that are comforting.

 

This is so true , think the best first.