As you reflect on your best memories of the past year, no doubt the criticisms you received rocket to the very top of the highlights list! They are precious as love letters. Not! It is easier to swallow a pill made for horses than criticism.
When someone criticizes us, our hackles raise up, and our first reaction is to load the big guns on top of our defensive wall and return fire. We automatically assume the criticism is unfair and unwarranted. It hurts. Its pain lasts longer than a bee sting.
When a bee stings us, we can put our finger on the injured body part. We can’t do that with criticism because it’s our pride that is wounded. I know it smarts, but may I suggest that instant retaliation is never a wise response to criticism. Never is a very long time.
I have coached track and field throwing events at a local high school for the last 26 years. I am an assistant coach, but a former head coach called me the face of track and field at the school because many head and assistant coaches have come and gone during those years while I have remained.
The last couple years at the end of the season, the head coach filled out an evaluation of my coaching. I received good marks in every area but one last season. It related to my use (or perceived nonuse) of coaching drills.
I have reasons why I coach as I do, but this isn’t the place to defend myself. The coach sees this area of drill incorporation as an area for improvement, requiring I change what I have done for the last 26 seasons. Are you surprised the suggestion irritated me, and that is what I remember, not the good marks in all other areas.
I offer these constructive criticism examples and free humility tests! Washing His disciples’ feet was one of Jesus’ humility tests and He passed it with a perfect score. I had a failing grade on mine.
Fortunately, after the season I attended a mandatory first aid class for coaches. I learned how to apply a tourniquet above my hemorrhaging pride! Not really, but injured pride is the problem.
We tend to have an overblown, unrealistically high estimation of ourselves and are blind to our deficiencies. Some criticism is unwarranted and just plain wrong. But we only know that if we listen to the critic without being defensive and thoughtfully weigh the criticism.
We have blind spots and faults we don’t recognize. If we want to be better people, better workers, and better Christians, we must be open to those who are telling us hard truths about ourselves.
The Apostle Paul criticized the Galatian Christians for turning away from the simple gospel of being right with God by His undeserved favor through faith in Jesus. He asked, “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16 NLT). Critics can morph into perceived enemies in a nanosecond when our pride is bleeding.
We must consider and thoughtfully weigh the criticism we receive. Some of it is the truth coming from people who are trying to help us. Do you know any good drills for track and field throwers? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com.
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