James 1:26

It's strange isn't it, how things occasionally just "slip out of our
mouths." We really never meant to say whatever we said, but sometimes we do.
For me, most often I find it hard to keep my mouth shut when someone is
sharing their problems of present difficulty with me. It's natural (I
think), to want to commiserate with them, to share with them and let them
know that you have experienced similar things in your life. Most of the time
though; what they really need is just a listening ear on which to unburden
themselves.

We have the same problem when someone mentions another person, far too often
in a negative way. We are tempted to "join in" and add our personal comments
regarding that person or persons. At times we may even be the one who is in
the forefront of the discussion.

At other times, we may be speaking directly to someone and either on purpose
or inadvertently say something hurtful or mean. Once it is said, it's
impossible to take it back.

One author wrote: "My grandson, Justus, age 10, and his sister Taylor, age
13, were always teasing each other. One day, Justus was getting "sensitive"
about things his sister was saying to him. I reminded him that he had said
the same types of things many times in days past. With quiet reflection, he
spoke a gospel truth: "But it doesn't hurt as much coming out of my mouth as
it does going into my ears."

There is a children's song that says, "Be careful little tongue what you
say. the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little
tongue what you say!

James puts it this way in James 1:26, "If you claim to be religious but
don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is
worthless." (NLT)

There are times I mess up and say the wrong thing, even though I try very
hard not to. Thankfully my wife is very forgiving, but I am even more
thankful to my God that he is even more forgiving! How are you doing?

Russ Lawson