Be careful what you email.
Once you send it, it’s forever. Like posting on the Internet: Send it, post it, upload it, and someone’s saved it. It’s on the net forever, able to haunt us for all time, permanent, never forgotten, and sometimes never forgiven.
A business axiom practiced by astute leaders the world over is to praise in public and criticize in private.
A middle school principal in North Central Texas who came from a line of educators took that axiom a step further. She refused to criticize on paper. She said, “What’s written is never forgotten. I want people to remember how strong they are, not the times they’ve stumbled.” She wrote her praises on sticky notes, cafeteria napkins, and on the backs of old envelopes. She handed them out freely. Her school staff believed in themselves, because she took the time to write her words down.
Ezra 1:1 tells us:
“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing.”
Cyrus not only proclaimed that he would do the Lord’s will, he also put it in writing.
When God speaks to us, let’s put it in writing. On sticky notes, paper napkins, and used offering envelopes. Use the margins of our Bibles. Write it somewhere. Make it permanent. Return to it, reread it, and let God speak to us again, bringing his promises and instructions to mind.
We’re putting our faith in writing. We’re making it real. We’re building a connection in our thoughts that reminds us of how strong we are when we’re in tune with Christ.
When our written records reveal our faith in Christ, our spoken words will be appealing to those who don’t know him.
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Code: FGO.J.14.16b.vp.esv