The answer is, “Yes!”
Advice on how to say no is often extremely helpful. I know I could use a good dose of that advice myself. Still, my favorite answer is, “Yes!”
One of our children teased me recently, saying that my answer to our grandchildren is always “yes.” I smiled, laughed, and defended myself, while thinking in my heart, “My answer to our children is ‘yes,’ too.” Why not?
Of course, I say no to our grandchildren about things that are wrong or dangerous, but I’m like everyone else on this wonderful green earth God made for us; I’ve only got a limited number of days to live and love and laugh. I’d rather fill them with lots of yeses, rather than with nos. I’ll ask it again: why not?
The real reason for advice on how to say no is profound. It helps us make decisions that give us the opportunity to say yes to what is most important.
The Christians in Corinth had issues, difficult issues. God chose Paul to help them get straightened out. Paul begins the letter of 2 Corinthians with a explanation of why he had not been able to visit them as he had wanted to do. His explanation includes an affirmation about God saying, “Yes.”
In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
2 Corinithians 1:15-20
I listened to a podcast recently that talked about responding to others with “Yes, and…” When we say “No” or even “Yes, but” we reduce the opportunity to make something good happen. When we reply with “Yes, and,” that can be a stepping stone to something even better than what either person originally had in mind. Good post, Mom!
Very good thoughts. I can see this. I see you living this, John. Thanks for the nice comment.
My husband was just saying that I need to say “yes” more often. So I gave the children whipping cream shots from the can. 😉
I hope they loved it!