July 19________________________________________
It is safer to meet a bear robbed of their cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
– Proverbs 17:12(NLT)
ON CONFRONTING FOOLS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you tell a fool they are wrong
You will get them angry not for very long
They don’t want to hear what you have to say
They will always follow their selfish ways.
It is safer to meet a bear robbed of their cubs
Than to tell a foolish person what they have done
Be careful how to approach those who are unwise
They wouldn’t want to hear or take anyone else’s advice.
________________________________________
When I was a teacher to high school students in my thirties, I was so used to giving unsolicited advice. I thought that I was doing the younger generation the favor when I share with them the wisdom I have gained from doing foolish things in my life. Some of them took my guidance with a warm and open heart, but some of them were angry and hostile to being given direction. At that time, I didn’t realize I had boundary issues and was also suffering from traumas I have experienced right from my childhood till my thirties. I learned later on from God’s word that we are supposed to mind our own business in 1 Thessalonians 4:11. We are also warned to take caution when confronting fools because it is worst than approaching a bear rubbed off their cubs.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, caution me when I need to set boundaries to myself and others.
REFLECTION
What experiences have you had on confronting fools?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com