Tiny Devotional for Monday, 07-16-2023

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, got to take Piper to the vet.


He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
Proverbs 17:9, NASB

My struggle with the scripture today is not theological, nor is it based with a problem in translation. It’s strictly personal; maybe a bit professional.

Primary truth:

It is TRULY clear that this proverb is warning what will happen as the consequence of a gossip, a tale-teller. Yup, seen it FAR too often. I spent 16+ years as a middle school counselor, and, as my students would discover that :

THEY WERE HAVING AN EMOTION, 

they felt the IMMEDIATE need to tell everyone about it. And, since the emotion was usually because a friend did/said/was something, strife followed. 

It’s a LOT more interesting to discuss friend transgressions than schoolwork.

Under these circumstances, as well as similar situations among adults, then there is NO better solution than: 

CONCEAL THE TRANSGRESSION.

If anything could stop the wildfire of discussion, that was it.

 But on the other hand…

...I also have experience with transgressions that should not be concealed.

As a general rule, parents should NOT conceal the transgressions of the children from each other. 

Also, the relationship between marriage partners really needs to be based on trust and truth. 

How do we reconcile the call to conceal and the call to divulge?

With our BRAINS.

My life rules require that I make amends to people I have harmed. That’s not ALL of the requirement; it includes 

‘except when to do so would injure them or others.’

Keep that in mind, because I have to take Piper to the vet now.


Peace be on your household.

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