The American bandleader Duke Ellington once said, "Critics sometimes get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did."

We all know how awful destructive criticism can be, but trying to be constructive in one's criticism is no bad thing. Sometimes painful, but eventually helpful.

The worst criticism is the type that Ellington refers to in his quote. It works something like this,
"I have no desire to help you, nor get involved in what you are attempting to do, however I will tell you how you should do it and where you are going wrong."

Someone( can't remember who, said ) "Never take the advice of someone who has not had your kind of trouble." And for that's exactly the problem, there are some people I will always listen to because they've been there, they're doing it so to speak. Those who shout from the place of inactivity do not have to be listened to, indeed have no right to speak.

Jesus said," For every empty word you speak, you will give account on the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

It's taken me a long, long time to learn that there is a time to speak and most definitely a time to say nothing.