Reaction vs Responding
Let me pose this question. What does it mean when a doctor says the following two statements? 1. You have reacted to the medicine that we gave you. 2. You have responded to the medicine that we gave you.
The first statement says that you reacted to a medicine. It is not a good thing to have a reaction to medicine. Some cases send people to the hospital and some to their grave. Reaction means that your body didn’t work well with the medicine given. However with the second statement that is good. If you respond to the medicine then that means it is working. You are healing with it.
Think of parenting in that way. If you react to something that your child says or does then that means you have done so without thinking. You haven’t thought about the effect that it may have on you or your child. You may say hurtful things or lash out in an unloving manner. However if you respond to your child then that means you took a bit to think about what is at hand. You think about the necessary consequences or rewards for whatever the situation is. This may mean that you say to them, “wait a min – I’ll be right back to talk about this. I need time to allow God to show me how to handle this”. Go away, catch your breath, count to 10 and ask God to lead you in how to handle it. This will allow you to respond and not react.
Remember: Reaction is not good. Responding is good!
