A Spoonful of Sugar

A Spoonful of Sugar

(Makes the Medicine Go Down)

A gentle (sweet) answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.  Proverbs 15:1

A spoonful of sugar is so sweet and when stirred into other foods or beverages totally change the flavor.  So it is with conversation or disagreement; using sweet words make the truth easier to take.  Have you ever noticed when you need to confront someone about a wrong being done, you can attack or begin by asking a gentle question? 

 In secular terms, we can call this process, ‘diplomatic’.  In spiritual terms, “How sweet are your words to my taste; sweeter than honey to my mouth!”  (Psalm 119:103)  An old-fashion way of saying this is, “You can catch more flies with honey.”  Kindness and sweetness win over every time.

The world we live in today calls for retaliation; retaliate when someone is mean to you and bad-mouths you.  This is not God’s way.  Every day people lose their jobs, lose friends and lose their peace of mind by trying to get even.  The following story is true and a great example of how a spoonful of sugar works.

A woman accepted Jesus as her Savior and was excited to share her testimony with all her family and friends.  One person, very dear to her, was very upset to hear what the new Christian told her about her salvation. She knew that she would definitely go to heaven when she died, but not everyone would. All those who hadn’t asked Jesus into their heart would go to Hell.  Her friend replied that she went to church on occasion and believed in God and that’s all she needed. Her friend was so upset with her that she no longer wanted to see her, or even talk to her and that their friendship was over if she believed in all that hellfire and damnation stuff. 

 The woman who was saved became very upset over this because she had lost a dear friend.  She prayed about it and felt the Lord wanted her to go back to her friend and apologize for how she had presented salvation to her friend.  So she went back to her friend’s house a few days later and sat across the table from her.  She told her friend she was sorry for coming on so strong and asked forgiveness for scaring her.  She told her how much she loved her and promised she would not talk about it anymore. They hugged and made up and continued their friendship.

As time went on the friend began to ask questions about God and was impressed at the change in the believer’s life.  Eventually, her friend came to ask Jesus into her heart and her life changed as well.  She began to trust the Lord for everything in her life and to tell others how Jesus saved her.  She is now in heaven with Jesus.

It pays off to be gentle and kind in all you do and no matter the circumstances, be ready to use a spoonful of sugar.  I recall the story of a drunk driver who hit a young person on a bicycle and killed him.  When the trial came the parents of the boy stood up and told the convicted driver that they forgave him and knew he didn’t deliberately kill their son.  When asked how they could do this, they explained that they could not live under the burden of un-forgiveness.  Not only did it free them, but it freed the one convicted and after serving his sentence came out of prison and became an evangelist. 

Forgiveness is like a spoonful of sugar; it keeps one from becoming bitter.  Bitterness is like poison that gradually seeps into your soul.  Matthew 6:15 explains the danger of un-forgiveness;   “If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  That one verse should put the fear of God in your heart; it can’t get plainer than that.  Don’t say that you will never forgive someone for the wrong they might have done against you.  If you claim to be a Christian, it’s only because God has forgiven you of your sins.  Search your heart today and if you hold something against someone, let it go.  Ask God to help you and you will feel His sweet love flow through you.