My Big Mouth

I have a big mouth.  I don’t mean I share secrets or anything like that.  I just know that sometimes the things I say gets me into trouble.  I’m sarcastic to a fault and my humor is often biting.  (When I write it like that, it doesn’t sound so humorous or witty!)  I don’t mean to be.  I’ve been this way for so long that it just naturally comes right off the tongue and out into space before I think about who’s around me.  And currently, the person around most to hear it is my 16-year-old daughter, Peyton.

I know I should be careful and more diligent.  I want to raise a respectful child, not one who thinks sarcasm or cutting humor is the way to go.  I want her to build people up, not say something funny at their expense or feelings.

There are about 9,245,479,111 verses in the bible about watching your speech, and of course, I ran into one when I was reading my Bible yesterday morning.

“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. –Proverbs 13:3.

Really, God?  I need this lesson?  And the answer is YES, I DO.  I have children and grandchildren watching what I’m doing.  I have a Bible study group that counts on me to be a leader.  I have friends who need community around them that support them and share the gospel with them.

While none of these reasons hold me to a higher standard, my faith in Jesus Christ does.  He made me in His image. The last time I checked, there wasn’t a Bible verse that said I can just spew words willy-nilly out of my mouth without thought and not have an impact on my life or the lives around me!

I’ve now written this verse from the Bible on sticky notes and have it posted around the house.  My prayer and goal moving forward is that the words I speak are exactly as Christ intended.

How about you, faithful friends?  Anyone else have this speech issue?  Come to the porch and share.

~Erin