Christmas BreakSample

TALK // When family tensions are high or we aren’t seeing our friends as much during a long break, it’s easy to slip into an attitude of judgment and frustration. A sibling won’t stop driving you crazy. A friend won’t return your texts. And almost immediately we jump to conclusions. But in his letter to Ephesus, Paul reminds us to only speak what is helpful for building others up. That means we communicate our frustration in a way that’s helpful, and we stop judging or assuming the worst. Because those things don’t just hurt the other person—they hurt you, too. Use this time around the holidays to practice building up and cutting out unwholesome talk. You may be surprised the effect it has on others AND you.