Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Words

Holidays. I love them. The smells, the excitement, I live for this time of year. My daughters are at the age now that they appreciate tradition. This is the first year they have asked for a particular dish. "Real Dressing". I thought that was pretty funny.

Holidays can bring out the best in us and at the same time bring on a new level of stress. Often time that stress pushes us to the limit. We use words and speak in tones that we later regret.

This morning I was reading in Proverbs 21 and God gave me some verses about the mouth. Specifically verse 9. It says "Better to live on a corner of the roof than with a quarrelsome wife." Wow, that's powerful. Then on down in verse 19 He says again "Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife."

So I'm thinking, "God, we don't quarrel, Chad refuses to argue, so I'm not getting why these verses are sticking out." That's when I felt it, "This doesn't apply to you and Chad. Keep reading." So I did.

Verse 23 came alive and this started to come together. "He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself from calamity." God had me jump back to Prov. 13:3 "He who guards his lips, guards his life." Oh, I see. God is gently telling me that no matter what happens, what is said or not said, keep your trap shut!

God has been working on my mouth for several years, and I believe He was gently reminding me that during this season especially, I need to be very aware of the words I speak. Proverbs 18:21 says "The tongue has the power of life and death."

That's humbling isn't it. The words we speak bring life or death. The tone we use brings life or death. The e-mail you send brings life or death. The Word tells us to encourage one another. I'm asking God to place a Holy guard on my mouth, and literally speak for me. I don't want my husband to say "I'd rather be sitting on the corner of the roof, or out in the desert than be in the same house with my wife!"

Let's make a concentrated effort to avoid quarrelling during this season! Let's not have wasted words.

8 comments:

BethAnne said...

Wise, wise words for all of us!

Mr. and Mrs. D said...

Wise words.

I, too, am a girl who loves tradition. And I am spending the holidays very far away from my family and their traditions. I am praying that God helps me to make ne traditions here in my new home with my new family.

Thanks for reminding me that my complaining tongue can ruin it for all of us.

Happy Thankgiving!

Heather said...

Thanks for your words of wisdom...definitely an area I need to work on!

Carol said...

So true, so true! You know I'm a words girl. I TRY to always live by only lifting others up with my words. I had that verse in my quiet time this week; so I, too have been watching my big trap!

Fran said...

AMEN Steph! Amen!!

Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy every moment of it!

Anonymous said...

I'm with ya! I struggle with my words and tone and attitude, too. My favorite verses are Psalm 19:14 and Eph 4:29.

DeAnna said...

Amen, Sister! How true it is that the old saying, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me" is not really the case. Infact, I would say that words are the very things that cut the deepest. I try really hard to watch WHAT I say, but I am not always so careful about the tone that I speak in Thanks for the reminder.

God's girl said...

ha ha ha! That so cracks me up and convicts me all at the same time. I was just on those verses and of course being dealt with too. My children especially have been arguing lately too so I have been all over those and many others! Lifting a prayer for our mouths!
Love ya!
Ang