Responding verses Reacting

When we as leaders (or parents or teachers or any capacity for that matter) are faced with difficult situations, we have a choice to make....

Will you

REACT??????? or RESPOND??????


I hope that you will respond. God's Word addresses this very issue. James 1: 19 say, " All men should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. For a man's anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. " Quick to listen??? I know that's often not our first response because the "being slow to speak thing" is already out the window! We've blown up and blown it!

So what's the difference between the two anyway? RESPONDING IS...

• a well thought-out action
• an attempt to understand and assess the situation
• a desire to influence the child to make positive changes.
• offering positive alternatives to negative behaviors.
• addressing the actions of the child and not the character of the child.
• done with emotional control.

REACTING, on the other hand

• is more of a reflex
• is often regretted
• is often done in the heat of our anger or emotion
• can take care of a problem momentarily, but does not offer long term solutions

Unfortunately difficult circumstances with children will arise, and we need to have a plan in place to handle those times. Take a minute to evaluate right now what your usual course of action is. If you react more than you respond, ask the Lord to help you the next time you are faced with a tough situation.