Friday! Proverbs!
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
Proverbs 17:9 ESV
The second part of this proverb informs the first... the implication is that this is an unnecessary repitition,  perhaps an opening of old wounds, simply gossip, or perhaps betraying a confidence...these are the things that can separate friends.
The lesson?
Be careful with your words.
They're important and they can damage friendships.
And then there's the first part... where I could take offence, I could let this damage our friendship, or I could choose to cover it over.
To absorb it.
As an act of love.
(There's times when covering an offense is not an act of love at all - but that's for another day)
Sometimes my friendship, our relationship, is more important than my rights.
There's something to chew on this Friday!
#proverbs
#wisdom
#choose