Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
(Stephen said:) “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.” (Acts 7:51, NRSVCE)
Correction is always hard to hear, no matter how lovingly and 
kindly it is delivered, no matter how much we know in our souls that it’s needed.
Back in my late thirties, after a couple of particularly raucous public events, one of them involving a wedding toast, my then-husband with great compassion suggested I was drinking too much. And while I’ve backslid a time or twenty since then, I took what he said to heart, and have always remembered the discussion as one of the kindest, bravest things he did for me.
A wise friend took me aside five or six years ago and noted my proclivity for running away from conflict rather than acknowledging disagreements and attempting to find common ground… or calmly standing by my position. And while I still am uncomfortable with conflict, I took what she said to heart, and try to remember her words when such situations arise.
Three or four years ago, another friend noted my hypersensitivity to perceived criticism, and suggested I consider the remarks to be a baseball caught in a catcher’s mitt… and to remember I have the choice of hurling the ball back, throwing it softly, or simply letting it drop to the ground. And while I still sometimes overreact to what people say, I took what she said to heart, and find myself slowly but surely gaining more control over my emotions.
Consider Stephen’s harsh words to the people. Small wonder they were enraged and ground their teeth at him. But his correction, frank and blunt as it was, may have planted a seed in the hearts of many, including Saul, who was among those present and who would later have his famous conversion on the road to Damascus. May we open our hearts and ears when the Lord uses others to carry His message of correction—and love.
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