Are You Listening?
Are You Listening?
There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov. 12:18)
“Sometimes I feel like Seth doesn’t listen to a word I say,” I told my friend Jessica. “We were talking after we got home from work last night. Pretty soon it turned into an argument, and I could tell he’d tuned me out. Do you and Nick bicker about petty things very often?” I asked.
“It depends a lot on me,” Jessica replied. “I can get a little testy at certain times of the month. When I started journaling, I realized that my irritability increased at about the same time each month. Don’t underestimate your hormones. They might be playing a bigger part in your relationship that you think.”
“You’re probably right. My period is due any day now, and I guess I’ve been taking my frustration out on Seth.” I was grateful that God had used Jessica to help me see it wasn’t all about Seth.
Although hormonal fluctuations can definitely make women more sensitive or irritable, it doesn’t mean we can use those times to unleash every negative thought on those around us. Proverbs 14:1 says, “Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” Another way we can interpret that verse is: “Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own words.”
Keeping our thoughts to ourselves may be difficult, but we can do that by recognizing when we are feeling hormonal and do our best to keep peace. We are encouraged in Proverbs 14:29 that “a patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.” Listen to God, and let your hormones take a backseat.