HOW DO YOU?
Today's reading: Psalm 140-142

"Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it..." Psalm 141:5 NLT

How do you take your Christian brother or sister-given constructive criticism?

No, I'm not talking about Sister So-And-So's running commentary on your most recent hairstyle or your choice of pants over a skirt, but the real walking-the-walk and talking-the-talk critiques?

Do you bristle? Do you throw in the towel? Do you cross your arms and storm off in a huff? Do you avoid that section of pews from that Sunday on? Do you whimper? Do you begin a long list of their own faults and failures?

Or, like David, do you consider it a gift from God that He cares enough for you to send a fellow sojourner to help you along the path? Do you accept it as from God and ponder how you might work on the area in question?

We're surrounded, in any church, with family members whose advice we esteem and whose advice we sweep under the rug. Take time today to ask God to send the helpful hints your way. Ask Him to surround you with brothers and sisters in Christ who care enough about you to bruise your ego and take you down a few notches--in love. Ask Him to never ever leave you to your own devices!

And ask Him to allow you grace to take it all with a spoonful of sugar!