…and then…
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (ESV)
We all know someone who could easily step into this picture. They talk endlessly about their opinion (truth or myth) and they are absolutely sure that they are correct. On and on they go; blah, blah, blah, blah! To make matters worse, they might even have health issues (imagined or real) that they share willingly with way too much information.
Generally, the topic of conversation is a monologue. When I see the name displayed on caller ID, my thoughts run something like this: “Oh joy (said sarcastically under my breath)! Should I let it go to voice mail? Do I have an hour to give listening to all this AGAIN?” Just when I think the conversation is drawing to a close, I hear, “…and then…” I know I need to sit down and get ready for more. I go into survival mode. Do I have enough to eat and drink?
How can I turn a negative into a positive (without using Gorilla tape or earplugs)? What is the politically correct way to say, “You talk too much!” without hurting their feelings? This is a hard one for me because I don’t ever want to intentionally make someone feel badly. But enough is enough!
I have had to do some serious praying about this situation and what came to mind was the fact that God put me in this person’s life for a reason—even if it is just to be a listener. I have a list of positive things we can discuss by the lamp on my writing table and it includes: our dogs, the spring / change of seasons, what has Jesus done for you recently and so on. I find that when I ask about answered prayers, the conversation takes a definite turn.
Maybe we all need to check in with each other more often and ask that question. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to try it. Answered prayers deserve sharing, don’t you think?
Now, I am not going to change the habits of this person described above but I can change the course of the conversation in a loving, kind manner. Besides, I love talking about Jesus!