“With patience, a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone” (Proverbs 25:15, ESV).
Once, according to Aesop’s Fables, the wind, rain and sun were watching a man walking along the road bundled up with gloves, a hat and an overcoat. These three decided on a competition to see which one could make the man remove his warm clothing.
First, the wind began to blow, in an effort to tear the coat off, but it only succeeded in making the man wrap his coat more tightly about himself.
Next the rain began to pelt him with hail, hoping the coat would be forced off, but he hunched up even more.
Finally the sun came out, shining warmly. After an hour or so the man was so warm and comfortable that he took his coat off!
“Honey,” we say these days, “will catch more flies than vinegar.” Impatiently we think we should be able to change people overnight. “Why doesn’t our fifteen year old behave like a mature adult?” parents wonder. “Why doesn’t my husband see things from my point of view?”
wonders the young wife.
Be patient. Allow them the one element they truly need to mature — the passage of time. Demanding things of others, nagging and accusing them, usually makes them hunch over in a defensive posture. How much better to allow the sunshine of your love to make the changes they need.