The Bible says love is “…not rude…” (1 Corinthians 13:5) Like all the aspects of love, if we are considerate of the other person’s feelings, we will not be rude. The area of rudeness I’m most guilty of is interrupting people when they’re speaking. Why do I do this? Because I’m either impatient (maybe they’re slow in expressing their thoughts and I want to help them along), or I don’t like what they’re saying, and I want to express my view. But, if I’m being considerate of their feelings, I will listen patiently, attentively, and humbly, showing respect for their thoughts and feelings, even if I disagree. Love will actively attempt to understand them, which requires attentive listening, keeping focused on what they’re saying (not on what I want to say).
Since I am around my husband the most, he is the person who has experienced my conversational interruptions the most. Sometimes, I interrupt him to finish his sentence for him. Even if I do know what he’s going to say, I should let him say it! At other times, I’ve been guilty of interrupting because I don’t like his idea and I want to express my thoughts. A polite person would give him their full attention and not respond until he has finished. One way that I try to keep my focus on what he’s saying is to silently repeat his words in my mind. I can’t be thinking his thoughts and mine at the same time, so this helps.
Any form of rudeness is a result of selfishness: putting our needs before another person’s. Love would not intentionally ignore or annoy someone. Love is polite and considerate of others.
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