“. . . for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 (KJV)
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God puts people in our lives to strengthen us, encourage us, challenge us and . . . correct us. That’s a tough one – correction. An action word that requires an action (I am corrected, therefore I must correct).
In our home we have a Swear Jar. If for some reason you feel a conversation isn’t complete without colorful expletives – you will visit the Swear Jar. Each transgression will reduce your pocket change by 25 cents. We buy water with the change from the Swear Jar and rarely have to add to the “oophs!” change within.
Most people honor the code, some language behaviors have been changed, some folks pre-pay (no, that doesn’t make it cheaper), and some outright refuse to participate. Over the years we’ve seen kids monitor their friends and fines are paid even when no adults are around.
One day I was working away at my computer and it started to give me trouble. No matter what I did I couldn’t get it to cooperate. “This stinkin’ computer,” I yelled.
Up pops a little voice from behind me, “Oh, Mom, you owe the jar a quarter.”
“What for,” I quipped back. “Stinkin’ isn’t a bad word.”
“It is when you say it in that tone of voice,” replied my 8 year old.
Busted! My heart broke and I was immediately filled with humility. I had broken my own rule. I had allowed the frustration of a day, an hour, a moment, to steal my joy and toss me into wrong standing.
How often do we use “safe” words when we’re angry or frustrated, only fooling ourselves? It isn’t the word we use, it’s the intent of the heart. It isn’t always “vulgarity” that gets us into trouble, but the emotion behind a common thought we feel we have a right to express.
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8 (KJV)
Lord, help me every day not only to tender the words I speak, but to tender the heart and emotions with which I speak them. Help me to be more like you.
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Written by Linda J. Humes
9-29-2009
Linda J. Humes 