Today, Fresh Start Momentum begins a SUMMER SISTER SERIES highlighting the lives of some famous and amazing women who might just encourage us in our struggles. True stories that can give us insights for our lives in the 21st Century and how all women--married or not--have always been important throughout history. Join us each Monday for the next five weeks as we showcase our "sisters."
Big Sisters Can Be a Blessing
Sometimes it takes a little faith and a head on our shoulders to get things done. In the process, we might even learn some hard lessons, as in the story about this amazing girl:
Miriam was no exception. Her brother was as famous as one could get. His name was Moses and Miriam saved his life right after he was born. At a young age of 12, she watched her mother devise a plan to place Moses into a waterproof basket and send it down the Nile River to safety. They did this to save him from being slaughtered along with all little Jewish boys as ordered by the king of Egypt.
Miriam was no exception. Her brother was as famous as one could get. His name was Moses and Miriam saved his life right after he was born. At a young age of 12, she watched her mother devise a plan to place Moses into a waterproof basket and send it down the Nile River to safety. They did this to save him from being slaughtered along with all little Jewish boys as ordered by the king of Egypt.
Miriam carefully watched the basket and then witnessed Pharaoh’s daughter remove the baby, even though she knew he was a Hebrew baby doomed for death. Miriam was quick-thinking and told Pharaoh’s daughter she would help to get a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. The woman was actually Moses’ mother! Miriam was not only good under pressure but later became a leader during the Exodus, a prophetess, and a songwriter. Very ambitious, indeed!
Miriam, however, became jealous of Moses as he grew up and criticized his leadership. She also didn't care for his choice of a certain woman to become his wife. Sound familiar? To make things even worse, Miriam and another sibling expressed their resentment in public. And here was when Miriam had some hard lessons to learn about the motives behind destructive criticism of others.
Simple Answer, Difficult Problem
Many issues surely factor into why we find it so easy to criticize others. So many issues, in fact, it's best to speak to a doctor specializing in this area if we find criticism is a serious problem in our lives.
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| True perfection found only in nature |
In general, criticism can grow in us because we not only dislike what the other person is doing or how they are doing it. But because in some way or another, we believe it will negatively affect us or disturb our life. It's an ego problem in its simplest form. However, we can't possibly know what's in the other person's head. Only God can have that kind of insight.
Most of the time, we allow our pride to convince us we are right and they are not. Then we go about trying to tell them how to live and placing blame. The result is mass destruction of the ugliest kind.
Five Constructive Measures We Can Use
1. Look at the motives behind our criticism.
2. Use praise first, then offer suggestions only.
3. Concentrate on the behavior, not the person.
4. Use examples from our own life.
5. Support the other person in finding ways to improve.
[Find Miriam’s story in the Holy Bible, Exodus 2 and 15; Numbers 12 and 20.]
For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Micah 6:4
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