“But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8)
Last night, I said something mean to my husband. I was tired and cranky, and he had said something that hurt my feelings (though unintentionally), and so I lashed out with my weapon of choice — my words.
And once I had, I regretted it, because scoring a “win” in a disagreement never leaves me feeling victorious.
I often tell my children that they should be careful what they say because their words can hurt more than any hit or kick, and the pain lasts much longer. I speak with all the zealousness of someone who knows from experience.
One of my biggest personality flaws is my passive aggressive nature, which comes out when I’m upset in the form of sly insults and sarcastic lash-outs. This happens when I’m tired and frustrated and feeling underappreciated. And as some of you may know, that can be an everyday occurrence.
Letting my poisonous tongue run loose on my husband, children, and loved ones can easily destroy the relationships that I hold most dear. But I know that I alone cannot control it. Trust me, I’ve tried.
One of my constant prayers is for patience and kindness. I have the fruit of the Spirit taped to my bathroom mirror: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I know that living these is a constant struggle in the face of my innately sinful nature. But I keep trying and keep praying.
Are you having your own struggles with an untamed tongue? Have your words hurt your family, friends, or people at work? Are you harming yourself with them?
Though it sounds simple, it really isn’t, but the most important thing for us to remember is to think before we speak. Take one second to think about how you and the person you are speaking with will feel once you say what you want to say. Is what you say adding value to the conversation, or tearing down your communication? Are you motivating with positivity or ridiculing yourself?
Our tongues are impossible to tame all the time, but we can strive to be better. Remember that God’s grace bridges the gap between what we can do and what we need to do, making the impossible possible.
Good luck this week. I’m off to make my apologies for my own unkind words.
Have a blessed Monday!
Leave a Reply