A Petite But Potent Word

Some writers consider “no” to be the hardest word to say. Of course, whether or not this is true depends on the context. For example, most parents don’t have a problem dropping this word if their children get out of line. You can picture it, can’t you? A tiny hand is reaching for a hot stove. ”No!” you yell, “It’s hot!” If I had a penny for every time I’ve said “no” to my children, I would probably have like $50. So, there are occasions when saying “no” is not all that difficult. Nevertheless, we struggle saying this word in other contexts, especially if saying it means losing out on something or sacrificing something we deem important. The Bible tells of those who failed to say “no” when they should have. For instance, Adam and Eve didn’t say “no” in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-7), and we are still…