Originally Authored 10/5/14
Are you a peaceful person? Do you enjoy being around those that are peaceful? I want to inspire you to bring peace to the people in your life like a plate of cookies.
THE PROBLEM WITH PEACE
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Ps 34:13 – 14
This sounds pretty simple.
WATCH YOUR TONGUE
My tongue can be wild, sharp, quick, destructive, and without control. I have allowed the pain, fear, lack of control, bitterness, depression, sorrow, low self worth, assumptions, and self-centeredness that was in my heart to leak out through my tongue. It is important to watch my tongue and to think before I say something considering the impact of my words on someone with a different perspective than my own. Be gentle.
TURN FROM EVIL
It is important to define evil, see it in yourself and others, make no excuses and turn from it. It is not necessary to confront or control it, just turn from it.
SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT
These are two separate thoughts. Look for peace and then when you find it, pursue it. Chase it. Be annoyingly interested in it. Don’t let it out of your sight. Make it a top priority. Focus on it. Spend a lot of time thinking about it. Look under rocks and around corners for it. Be a problem solver in the name of ‘peace’. Be a peace-maker.
THE PEACEFUL SOLUTION
Peace is something that can surround others if you bring peace to the table. You cannot make others be peaceful but you can bring a peaceful presence, . . . like a plate of cookies.
How can you bring a plate of peace cookies to your next gathering? Think of several ideas and write them on a piece of paper. Put them in your ‘Peace’ cookie jar and remember to eat (read) one each morning. Examples of peace cookies are:
I will ask ‘how is your day?’ and REALLY mean it!
I will pay attention to birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and give people a call or send a card to congratulate them.
If I can’t say something nice, I won’t say anything!
No laughing at the expense of others.
I will be a peace-maker today and be involved in resolving disputes without taking the conflict on myself.
I will smile a lot today!
Your ‘cookies’ may be specific to your workplace, your spouse, your children, etc.
Oh, . . . and eat a cookie today. Enjoy the sweetness and remind yourself how sweet you will be to others as you offer them peace cookies.