"Hugging" & "Spanking"

I’m really struck recently about

how easily we focus on the negative

how easily we focus on frustrations

how easily we focus on the nagging reoccurring annoyances

how quickly we correct each other

And as I’ve reflected on that personally

And observed it in others

Many things have come to mind

Are we “hugging” as much as we are “spanking”?

That comes from a great book titled The Servant by James Hunter

Are we as generous with our affirming words and actions

As we are quick to share our criticisms and frustrations?

What is our emotional bank balance?

Are we making as many deposits with people as we are withdrawals?

Are you net positive (more positives than negatives)

With God

With your spouse

With your parents

With your children

With your siblings

With your friends

With your co-workers

Silence isn’t necessarily the solution

Remember actions speak just as loud as words

If we are silent

Are we equally silent?

Are we withholding criticism, judgment, and frustration

As often as we withhold positive reinforcement?

Most of us are very keenly aware of our faults

And the moments/cycles of poor choices

Do we really need them to be called out?

And reinforced by someone else?

I think we are pretty hard on ourselves to begin with

Perhaps not necessary for someone else to consistently validate that?

I saw on pinterest last week this question

What if you woke up today

With only

The things

You thanked

God for

Yesterday?

Now extrapolate the above question further

What if you woke up today

With only

The things

You thanked

-->Your spouse for

-->Your kids for

-->Your extended family for

-->Your friends for

-->Your church for

-->Your workplace for

-->Your school for

-->Your government for

Yesterday.

I’d find myself missing a lot of things today

if they above were applied to me.

Who are the people

What are their characteristics

That you are thankful for?

Do they know?

Did you tell/show them yesterday?

Have you told/shown them today?

What if we all spent today

Reinforcing only the positive

Ensuring that for every 1 “spank”

We had previously delivered at least 2 “hugs” to that person

Repeat tomorrow

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Because I’m telling you (from recent personal experience)

You’re going to come to a moment

Where you make an unexpected large withdrawal

And you’ll hope that you previously made enough deposits

That you are still net positive

What if we dumped our negatives

About anyone and anything

At the feet of Jesus?

Why do we target and dump our frustrations on imperfect humans

Rather than on the omniscient, omnipresent God of the universe?

The cry of my heart right now

is that we are all "hugging" more than we are "spanking"

ATTITUDES ARE CONTAGIOUS

IS YOURS WORTH CATCHING?