What Are We Producing

Sometimes when I read the scripture passage for my day's devotions I see a single verse that creates in me a single mindset. As that mindset ingrains itself into my heart I find myself unable to see, or hear, anything else the reading may have to say. Today is one of those days.

James 1:17-27 has within it these words from verse 20 - for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. The verse before it mentions being quick to listen and slow to speak, slow to anger. The verses after it talk about how to be an effective listener and a call to do what is good in the eyes of God. But that single verse, those seven simple words really just stick with me.

Yesterday I was observing one of the students I help. We were in his math class and one of the two teachers was in the front of the class explaining a problem the kids had a question with. The other teacher came to where I was standing and began to complain under her breath that they were running out of time. She grew more impatient as time went on, actually voicing comments such as, "just give them the answer, they can figure it out themselves", or, "we need to move on, if they need help they can come to tutoring."

The teacher at the front of the class was doing her best to help the students understand, and she was making headway. The teacher in the back, however, became more and more impatient. A student close to the teacher in the back turned to her and asked if he could be moved closer to the board because he couldn't see. Her reply was, "Why don't you just get glasses." The student immediately shut down.

There's a saying we have in the customer service industry; behavior breeds behavior. How you treat someone will be how you get treated. The fruits of your words and actions are what those around you will ingest, and if those words are sweet or bitter will be completely up to you.

Just remember that whatever you produce will be a vindication of who, and what, you are. So our thought for today is to be aware of what it is we share with those around us and to do everything we can to share the best we have to offer.