Think Before You Speak

Cheung was upset with his wife for failing to check the directions to the famous restaurant where they hoped to dine. The family had planned to round out their holiday in Japan with a scrumptous meal before catching the flight home. Now they were running late and would have to miss that meal. Frustrated, Cheung critizied his wife for her poor planning.
     Later Cheung regretted his words. He had been too harsh, plus he realized that he could have checked the directions himself and he had failed to thank his wife for the other seven days of planning.
      Many of us identify with Cheung. We are tempted to blow up when angry and to let words fly without control. Oh, how we need to pray as the psalmist did: " Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips".
      But how can we do that? Here's a helpful tip: Think before you speak. Are your words good and helpful, gracious and kind?
     Setting a guard over our mouth requires that we keep our mouth shut when we're irritated and that we seek the Lord's help to say the right words with the right tone or, perhaps, not speak at all. When it comes to controlling our speech, it's a lifelong work. Thankfully, God is working in us " the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
      Dear Lord, help us always to think before speaking. Give us the words to say and the wisdom to know when to keep silent.
     Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ( Proverbs 16:24)