Beans

This came across my path this week:

Get a bag of red beans and a bag of white beans. Pinto and lima work great. Split them up between you and someone who you are trying to love better (husband and wives, brothers and sisters, friends, coworkers). Each of you will get a pile of red and white beans.

Every time you say something encouraging, complimentary, and positive to the other person they get to give you a white bean. Every time you criticize, speak negatively, or utter any discouraging word then you get a red bean. You could even do this with another couple and make a competition out of it! You will be training yourself to be "nice"...and you might learn something about yourself. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

Jesus set the example in this matter. He never spoke anything that could be examined in the light and found to be worthy of a red bean. "But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent." (Luke 20:26)

The game is afoot!