Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 1 Peter 2:1, NIV
How often do you find yourself in a conversation at work that you didn’t mean to be in—the kind that starts with a funny story and quickly shifts to complaining about kids or grumbling about another mandatory meeting?
This happened to me in the teacher’s lounge the other day and I felt stuck. I knew in my heart that I didn’t want to be there, but my body was still there “listening.” After all, I wanted to be a good friend and supportive of those around me. And I wanted to be a person others could come to and share their burdens.
But I knew there had to be a better way to “listen and support” those around me. So I began to pray. I told God how I was feeling and asked Him for discernment. Like always, He was faithful to provide me with the following solutions to bring life and connection to these difficult situations…
- Use a phrase that makes them feel heard but shifts the focus, “It’s interesting that you said that. It reminds me of…”
- Ask for advice or help instead of joining in the complaining. Teachers are expert problem solvers and typically want to jump in and help others.
- Offer a compliment. This always shifts the focus from negative to positive and allows the other person to feel like they are seen.
- Last, walk away. It is ok to exit from something that is not life-giving. This does not make you a bad listener, but rather a safe person for others.
In 1 Peter 2:1, Jesus suggests that we rid ourselves of these things because it opens up more space for us to live in the vastness of His love and life. Much like forgiveness, it brings freedom. It allows us to receive more of who He is. What a gift!
Jesus, Help us to have hearts that listen to You first. Help us to hear Your voice and know when we need to set a boundary with others at school so that we can continue to be a light for You. Help us to listen to You as You teach us to rid ourselves of things that do not bring hope and healing to our workspaces. You are so so good. Amen.
Copyright Rebekah Hutchinson.
Rebekah is a member and a second-grade teacher in Vancouver, Washington.
2 Responses
Thank you for this post. I have often heard that the teacher’s lounge should be avoided because of gossip, however I believe it extends to anywhere. You have such great advice to help shift the tone of the conversation. Thanks for sharing, reading this was a blessing for me.
This is something I’ve been praying about and working on for at least 2 years- being a positive light in a almost constant negative atmosphere! Its so hard to know what to do. Thanks for these suggestions.