THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever been insulted?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 12:16. the prudent ignores an insult.
Do you know what an insult is? An insult is something mean or hurtful that is said to someone. Have you ever been insulted? Has anyone ever said something mean to you, or about you to other people?
Solomon is telling us to do one of the hardest things ever. He says that the prudent or wise person ignores an insult. When we ignore something we act as though it didn’t happen. To ignore something is to pay no attention to it. Like I said, this is very hard to do, especially when someone insults you.
What do we usually do when someone insults us? Well, we usually get upset, or angry. Or, maybe we insult back. What do you do when someone insults you? But when we do that it just keeps all the meanness going and going.
In the New Testament the Apostle Peter tells us that Jesus never insulted back when he was insulted.
1 Peter 2:23. When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to God who judges justly.
What did Jesus do instead of insulting? He trusted God. He trusted that God would judge and take care of the ones who say mean things. Can you do that too? Well, it’s not easy to do, but when we trust Jesus and know that God loves us no matter what, we can ignore insults too.
Because of Jesus we can trust God to deal with those who are mean.
With Jesus we can ignore insults.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Help your kids develop a strategy for when they are insulted. There are many helpful articles online. Strategies include walking away, using humor, staying calm, and asking questions (Why did you say that?).
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, help me to be able to ignore insults from mean people. Yes, they hurt my feelings, but I trust you to let fairness win.
TLICfamily 