Discreet, discreto.
“We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove” - Mark Twain
In today's secular world of language we have made the word discreet, a dirty little word. Being discreet today is more apt to be applied to relationships that are forbidden and gossip, rather than what the word truly means.
Discreet or discretion is the ability to not bully people with our personality or actions, or even with sound and right opinions. It is giving serious respect, attention, and thought to what we say and do.
But, be careful as Mark Twain points out to not let being discreet paralyze you into inactivity and you end up simply following the crowd and passing along the latest gossip.
I love how the great Pharaoh King put it when he was talking about Joseph, who had interpreted his dream. Joseph didn’t go about bragging about what he had done or how much he could do…he was discreet.
“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, For as much as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art; Thou shall be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”
Today, know this to be true; Wisdom comes in discretion. Wisdom comes through being and acting discreet in the direction you are being led. Or as Ben Franklin so aptly put it, “In a discreet man’s mouth, a public thing is private.”
Have a great Wednesday!
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