When you don’t shop at Tesco for a while, they send you vouchers for free stuff. I loved the irony of these two vouchers that they sent in their last attempt to lure us back to shop regularly with them.
Being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and so is being over 40. Their database has obviously told them that I am now over 40 (I know that’s hard to believe) and so they sent me the voucher for a free diabetes check. Their database wasn’t clever enough to stop them sending me a second voucher for free jam doughnuts that will make a development of diabetes more likely. Is this part of a cunning strategy or an unfortunate mistake?
When we think we are getting mixed messages from people, sometimes this is because we worry too much. We think we know what people mean when they do and say things when in reality, only those people know what is going on in their head. For example, your best friend may not have spoken to you for a week but it doesn’t mean they hate you.
I am a very sarcastic person and sometimes that gets me into trouble. Occasionally I’ll go back to someone I was sarcastic with and clarify that I was only joking and apologise if necessary. It’s very easy to give mixed messages when you have a sarcastic sense of humour and so if I think someone has misunderstood me it’s worth making the time to communicate clearly.
Don’t let mixed messages destroy or spoil a relationship. Is there someone who you think is upset with you but they haven’t said so to you? Your relationship with them is being spoilt because you are guessing what they are thinking. Why not contact them to clarify things? Ask them how they are and say you’ve missed talking (assuming that is true anyway). If your brave you can even ask them if there is a problem.
Try not to give our mixed messages. Do you think you may have given someone mixed messages? If so, I pray you will have the courage to contact them and to clarify things.
Jesus taught that we should treat other people in the way we want to be treated. Mixed messages can cause real problems, so let’s do our best to make sure that we don’t give out mixed messages ourselves.
God doesn’t give mixed messages:
He loves us
He wants what is best for us
He wants us to know him now and forever
How will we respond to God’s clear message of love and acceptance?
Honest about my faith 