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Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…

May 8, 2014 by Gindi 10 Comments

It’s not that I have run out of words.  Because that certainly has been the case before.

It’s just that I haven’t had any time to write them down.

I still don’t.

I’m writing these few words to get them off my heart while half dressed with dripping hair.

It’s been a wonderful but hard few weeks.  So much to be grateful for but also just SO MUCH.  I’m incredibly busy at work and with travel and with speaking and with heading a women’s group.  The eldest broke his wrist and the youngest is going through alternative treatments for asthma.  Tee ball and ballet are still in swing with their season wrapping up soon.  The last few mornings I’ve gotten up at 3:45.  I was dizzy from exhaustion yesterday.

But I was holding it together.  I know it’s all short term. I see the end in sight, and there are so many blessings.  I had an incredible morning yesterday visiting with one of the highest ranking women executives in the world.  Talk about a busy person.

What derailed me was one silly person.  One person intent on tearing down instead of building up.  One person unhappy enough with life that trying to pick apart someone else’s seemed like a good idea.

Isn’t that crazy?  That one person could knock you off track.  And maybe it wouldn’t have if I had been on guard and rested and in a strong confident place.  But since I wasn’t, I just wanted to throw in the towel.

I called a dear girlfriend and said, “Why am I even doing all this?  What on earth?  Maybe it’s time to just STOP.”

She has being going through a similar situation and said: One person hating you can really take it out of you.  Just knock the wind right out of your sails.  So let’s just pray that God wouldn’t let that happen.  That God would deal with the person and He would protect our spirit from getting zapped by the hatred.

Yes.

Absolutely.

I’m going to write more next week about creating community over conflict, but oh friend could we all just set out to do that today?  Maybe heed our momma’s advice and if we can’t say anything nice, then not say anything at all.  Because we’re all trying so hard.  And attacking each other isn’t going to help the person attacking or the person being attacked.  Let’s focus on staying positive and encouraging one another in love.

Please.

But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:14-16

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 
Colossians 4:5-6

Filed Under: Women

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rae Sinor says

    May 8, 2014 at 9:21 am

    A friend posted this and thought it was so good an wanted to share. Beautiful scripture to cling to!! God is good and worthy!!
    Psalm 63:1-8
    New International Version (NIV)
    Psalm 63[a]

    A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

    1 You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
    I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
    in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.
    2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
    3 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
    4 I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
    5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
    6 On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
    7 Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
    8 I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      May 9, 2014 at 6:56 am

      Oh I love this so much Rae – thank you so much for writing it here so I can come back to it!

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth Mason Bray says

    May 8, 2014 at 10:10 am

    Dear Sweet SMART SAVVY GREAT FRIEND GINDI .. you are in my thoughts and prayers .. you are an excellent guide to the women’s group you are heading .. pragmatic and fair .. an example to ALL even those that don’t realize it !!!! wink !!!

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      May 9, 2014 at 6:56 am

      Thank you Elizabeth – it’s been a harder year than I expected but God has been so faithful to teach me through it all.

      Reply
  3. Kathy says

    May 8, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    Every time I read posts from you and Kristin and other members of the God sized dream team, I marvel at how you all accomplish everything you do! You are amazing women with so many talents and God will bless you for using them the way you do.

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      May 9, 2014 at 6:55 am

      You are such an encouragement Kathy – it’s all God doing it b/c we certainly couldn’t do it on our own!

      Reply
  4. Jackie Lyles says

    May 10, 2014 at 4:09 am

    What an encouraging post. Gindi, Thank you for your leadership and mirror for living true and being kind. Sending you much love and encouragement. Jackie

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      May 10, 2014 at 8:16 pm

      Thanks so much Jackie. It’s an imperfect journey but one I hope He can use.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Chosing New York and Community Over Conflict says:
    May 12, 2014 at 5:01 am

    […] mentioned this on Thursday and will write about it more tomorrow on Leadership Tuesday (and maybe I’ll write about every […]

    Reply
  2. The Words Series: Part 2, When Less is More says:
    August 20, 2014 at 6:49 am

    […] in God, the adage holds true.  What did our mothers always tell us?  If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.  People judge who you are by what you […]

    Reply

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