Sometimes you need to save your breath.

You know that no one will listen to what you say.

• Talking will do no good.
• Explaining will not help.
• Arguing will probably make things worse.

A person not listening to you can be a good thing.

• You may not have anything useful to say.
• Your ideas may be wrong.
• You don’t like to admit it, but you don’t always have the right answers.

A person not listening to you can also be a bad thing.

• You may have useful information.
• Your ideas may be correct.
• The other person may simply be hardheaded or stubborn as a mule. He will not look at the other side of the coin.

Most of the time, a person will listen.

That person may not like what you have to say. However, he or she will listen. Therefore:

• Speak when you need to speak.
• Save your breath when you need to stay quiet.
• Always remember you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Speak and act with kindness.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6 NIV).

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Thanks to Joy Hamilton Hale and Mackenzie Smith for the cute photo.