Have you heard the song by John Mayer titled, “My Stupid Mouth?” Here are just a few lines from that song:
My stupid mouth, it’s got me in trouble.
I said too much again, to a date over dinner yesterday,
and I could see that she was offended.
She said, “Well anyway!” Just dying for a subject change.
Oh. It’s another social casualty.
Score one more for me, oh how could I forget,
Momma said, “Think before speaking.”
Have you ever caught yourself in one of the awkward moments where you just contracted “foot’n'mouth” disease? You know, those times when you ask when the baby is due, and she is not pregnant; or when you call your girlfriend by your last girlfriend’s name?
We have all had those moments when we say something and then wish we could immediately hit the “delete” button. Well we all have brain slips at times, but I am more interested in the words that come from our mouth on a regular basis that we would be completely embarrassed by if someone outside of our family could here. Isn’t it interesting that we talk the worst to those that we love the most? I can tell alot about a family, a parent, a child by how they talk to those closest to them when no one else can hear them (or atleast they think nobody can hear).
May I challenge us all to evaluate the words that come out of our mouth, especially when they are spoken at home and towards those we love the most. Scripture teaches us that no unwholesome talk is to come from our mouth, only that which is edifying and encouraging to others.
I pray all of us would be more careful about what and how we use words.
Joel