Knowing When To Fight And When To Let It Go

There will be some times when the more mature person will say to himself/herself, “I know I’m right, but it’s just not worth fighting about this matter.  I can hold on and win this battle but it will probably end up being more costly on the relationship in the long run.  So, I will humbly let it go.”  Obviously, there will also be times when the stakes are too high and we can’t “let it go.”  Knowing the difference between the two involves the kind of discernment that is a part of true wisdom.

The Wisdom of Saying Nothing

Recently, a staff person at a local restaurant was briefly telling me about some struggles in her

life.  After she talked about her frustration and her weariness—in an effort to be helpful and encouraging—I told her, “Don’t give up!”

She responded by saying, “Sometimes it’s best to give up.”

I said, “Well, I guess that’s true. You may come to a point where it’s not worth fighting anymore and it would be best to give up.”

She said, “Gee whiz, what kind of advice is that?  It’s pretty discouraging.”

Have I mentioned that sometimes it’s best to simply say nothing?