Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.
– Proverbs 12:15 (New Living Translation)

I was in my first year of coaching and I wanted to do things the right way. However, the junior varsity player was testing my patience. He was consistently late for practice and I wasn’t going to stand for it. I let him have it! I told him he wasn’t being fair to his teammates. I also said he wasn’t committed as a player. This went on for about a week and the situation wasn’t getting any better. I was about to kick him off the team, when one of his teammates pulled me aside and told me what was actually going on. He lived with his single mom and she had to have the car in order to get to and from work. He was late to practice because his only means of transportation was to either walk or try his best to catch a ride. Needless to say, I was humbled by this information. I had been so focused on my own agenda and doing things my way, that I hadn’t bothered to get to the root of the problem or to ask how I might help resolve it.

Proverbs 12:15 tells us that you can’t tell a fool anything. He knows it all and he’s not going to listen. But a wise man will welcome advice. He may even do something as amazing as to ask for it. The wise man also recognizes that it’s impossible for one person to see all sides of a question or situation. Instead of making hasty or irrational decisions, the wise man will take the time to gather all the facts from all the possible sources. Simple concept, yet profound.

Heavenly Father, all wisdom comes from You. Teach me the ways of the wise and save me from my own foolishness. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.