Member Care Tips - Part 8

I do not want to be defensive. It does not lead to anything good in our relationships. Being open to input, criticism, even when maybe the motive of the person giving it is not good.

Being open is a pathway to growth.

This is hard for me. It is my natural inclination to defend myself. It is natural to want to strike back when I believe I have been disrespected.

I have the ability to choose my response no matter how anyone treats me. I can choose to be silent. I can choose to respond in kindness. I can choose to be open to learning. I can choose to be corrected.

I want to be right. I want to be esteemed. I want respect. These are natural desires that every human being has but when I defend myself, things go south. It rarely makes things better.

Now there are times to speak up. There are times to speak into leadership. There are times to stand up for justice. It is the balance between the two that I have difficulty with. I do not always know when it is proper to do what.

I want to be open to feedback so I can grow and being defensive hinders that.

I want to speak up when someone is being mistreated. I do not want to shrink from the moment.

There is a balance that at times I have fallen short of. I have defended myself and not defended others. I desire to grow, get better. I need the spiritual gift of discernment. I need to grow in my character and receive my identity from whose I am. I desire to be humble and teachable. I desire to be courageous and brave.

I have landed on being personally open to feedback, do not become defensive.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.