Cock-a-doodle-don't! Is timing everything or a-lot-a-thing?

Proverbs 27:14

Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
will be counted as cursing.

Especially if by "neighbor" you mean my wife and by "early in the morning" you mean "before 8 AM (or more realistically 9 AM if her drothers could be had)."  I've learned from my bride that timing may not always be everything, but it is certainly a-lot-a-thing (Allie would be so proud I didn't say "alot"!).

Some things, though good, can be received poorly depending on the context in which they are given.  The Proverb is not saying that blessing your neighbor early in the morning really "is" a curse.  It is merely reporting the reality that your neighbor may "count" it as cursing.  It is important to know your audience, to know what is a curse and what is a blessing. Any perhaps a whisper would do better than a megaphone at 6 am.  Just a thought.  That's a freebie for ya.  No extra charge.

If you buy me an Amy Grant cd I will say "thank you" and know that you meant well.  If you buy me each and every Amy Grant album ever made I will count your blessing as a curse and wonder what I ever did to you.

Know your audience, know your limits, know the Truth, and know how to discern when and for what to be offended.  This Proverb is good advice for the early bird neighbor, but it is also great advice for us who are tempted to count as cursing the harmless joys of others because they don't mesh well with our preferences.  We are all too often too easily offended by that which is not really offensive. 

Always ask yourself, "Is it a sin issue?" or "Is it inherently foolish?"  If it is not sin or foolish, then the problem may be with you for having a problem with it.