Is it Better to Be Right?

Do you like to be the person that’s always right? I used to be that way, but GOD. 

When I was a young woman, all the bridal and baby showers in my family always fell on me to host. I don’t know how this got started, but it was always understood that it was my responsibility. I have a very large family, and my siblings would call me and ask when the shower would be. If you’ve never been the one that was in charge of a shower, you probably don’t understand the amount of work that goes into it. Even after you plan the date, time, and place you still have to get together with the other hostesses and decide on a hostess gift and the refreshments that will be served. Of course, it’s up to you to go buy the gift and sometimes the refreshments. The other hostesses all agree to pay you their part, but that doesn’t always happen. That causes you to pay double or even triple what the other hostesses are paying, depending on how many don’t pay you back. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun but a lot of work at the same time and not always appreciated.

At one time, I had to organize so many showers that we decided that we would only give a baby shower for the first child in each family. That is where the trouble began.  

One family member had already had a baby shower for her first son. She expected another shower when she got pregnant again. I reminded her that we were only giving one, so her mother talked her into going to church in hopes that the church would give her a shower. She claimed to be an atheist, so I was thrilled that she was going to church. One week she missed church, and I called her to see if she was okay. She told me not to check on her because she missed church, because after the shower she wouldn’t be coming back. She was only coming to get a shower [her words].  Needless to say, I was not happy with her. I was always a hostess at church showers, so I still would have been involved. I turned down the offer to be a hostess at her shower and that branch of the family stopped talking to me. I didn’t see any reason they should be mad at me. They knew the rule we had about second showers. I WAS RIGHT!!! They didn’t have a right to be mad at me. I stewed about it for a while, getting angrier and angrier each time I thought of it. Then, one day Holy Spirit spoke to me. Not audibly, but my spirit understood. He asked me if it was better to be right, or was it better to be a representative of His love. This really hit me where it hurts! It took me a few days to let go of the anger I had allowed Satan to build in my heart.  

When I finally let go of the anger, I called that family member. I apologized and let her know that I was in the wrong. I didn’t get the response I expected from her. She told me that yes, I was wrong, and I should have given her a shower without complaint. I had to bite my tongue, and I prayed for God to take over the conversation because if I spoke what I wanted to, it would not represent God’s love. I wanted peace in the family, and I had to pursue it through Holy Spirit.  

This family member eventually came to know Christ as her personal Savior. Did this experience with her have anything to do with it? I will never know this side of heaven, but what if I had not surrendered to the will of Holy Spirit that day. I would truly hate to find out that my attitude could have caused a different outcome in her life.

Colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Romans 12:18 says “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. This verse encourages striving for peace with others to the best of one’s ability. I never want to be the tool Satan uses to bring dishonor to the Lord.

We want to thank Naomi Jones for sharing this post.