“Know this, my beloved brothers (sisters): Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”  James 1:19 ESV

Be Careful, Little Mouth, What You Say

“Be careful, Sweetheart,” I explained to my young grandson while making Christmas cookies, “the red food coloring will dye your fingers and hands!”

Later he was helping Grandpa and explained, “Be careful, Grandpa, the red food color kills your fingers and hands.”

When I was a child, I learned a song in Sunday School that taught us to “Be careful, little eyes, what you see,” “Be careful, little ears, what you hear,” and “Be careful, little mouth, what you say.” I wish I had learned how to apply those words to my life more than I did.

We never know if someone completely understands what we are explaining. We take for granted that they understand. Do they understand our communication as we intended? There are different words for the same meaning and also same words for different meanings. It can be confusing even for an adult.

My friend called tonight for a phone number of a friend so that she could explain a situation that may have been misunderstood. When we are listening for that still small voice of the LORD, we are concerned about the possibility of someone misunderstanding and perhaps having some hurt feelings. Thank You, Lord, for that “tap on the shoulder, and whisper in the heart.”

Now this other friend could have become angry and offended and picked up the telephone to call other friends to tell them of her offense. All of this from a possible misunderstanding similar to the misunderstanding of the word  “dye” or “die” or “kill” in the mind of a child.

Psalm 141:3 tells us to “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” I would like to take this a step further and ask the LORD to “set a guard over my heart, and keep watch over my mind” so that I do not become offended or hurt by anything anyone would say. Instead, give them the benefit of the doubt that they did not intend their words to hurt or offend, and even if evil was intended, to leave it in the hands of the Lord.

Colossians 4:6 (ESV) instructs us,“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Seasoned with salt may make it easier to eat those words later if you must.)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Not just my words, but my heart and mind also. Help us to love one another as You love us, and apply to our lives the words ‘Be careful what we see, be careful what we hear and especially be careful of what we say.’ Thank You, Lord.”