Restraint anyone?

I have never, ever denied my faith and I am always happy to share my testimony when others are willing to listen.  In fact, when I was in 5th grade at Gentilly Terrace Elementary School, I talked daily with an atheist classmate, trying desperately to bring him to the Lord.  Timothy Morgan, if you’re still out there and want to know Jesus, please call me.

But even when I was in my twenties and thirties, I was ashamed at times that I was not as outspoken on my political opinions and beliefs.  I would answer honestly when asked what I thought, but when pushed to agree with the other side, I would often give up my argument while trying really hard to understand and empathize with the other side in case there was something I wasn’t quite understanding.  I avoided conflict whenever possible and simply continued to believe what I wanted.  Back then, I considered myself to be a coward.

I’ve continued this behavior in my forties and fifties, but now maturity tells me that what I considered to be a weakness back then is actually an admirable quality.  It’s referred to as “restraint.”  I have the restraint to not speak (or write on Social Media) every thought that pops into my head about why I like or do not like the current administration.  I understand that stating said thoughts to an audience who may or may not care, is not going to change a thing, because while unfortunate, people listen less than they talk on these matters, and people talk more than they act on the same, and they certainly don’t listen to words that are spoken out of hatefulness, ignorance, or arrogance.  I understand that the people in my life, even the ones that I rarely see, are far more important than any need I have to express what I am thinking every minute of every day.  I understand that my words have very little power to change their opinions, but extraordinary power to ruin relationships and wound the people I love.

When I shared my love of Christ with Timothy Morgan in the 5th grade, it was because I wanted to help him… not because I wanted to convince him I was right and he was wrong.  Sharing political opinions on social media helps no one.  Even sharing factual information doesn’t help, because no one knows what to believe any longer. So for now, I choose restraint. May I interest you in a little of the same?