The Words That Come Out Of My Mouth

Do you ever really think about the words that are coming out of your mouth? Or, the tone with which you speak? There have been times when my children have said something that I reacted to with anger. Then, it hits me that they are just repeating what they hear and how they hear it coming from me. It’s kind of a slap in the face.

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Since I always try to be honest, here it is: I am not always patient with my children.

*Gasp!*

*Shock*

Yes, I know. Shocker, huh? There are days my mouth gets the best of me. Unfortunately. It is quite humbling to have to ask a 5 year old to forgive you because you lost your temper and said things you shouldn’t have said. I think most of the time, my problem is not what I say, it’s completely how I say it.

Telling my child to clean up their toys is not wrong. However, when I say it out of sheer frustration…. it doesn’t come out quite the same as with calm patience. Today we had a no “screaming, yelling, whining, arguing, or fighting” day. That was the rule. And you know what? Because I checked myself, things went fairly smooth today. Not perfect, but better than those other days.

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Right now, I am teaching the children one of my favorite verses. I think it might be my favorite because it is hard for me to live it out moment by moment. It’s that gentle reminder I need. If the children know it, they will tell me when it is not true in my life.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19.14

The words we speak hold life and death. I can speak life into my children or I can come down on them every time I open my mouth and destroy them from the inside out. All the while, calling myself a Christian.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18.21

Do you hold your tongue when you find yourself angry? Or do you let it fly without thought? I know I find myself doing more of the latter. What can I say, I’m a work in progress. I’m just grateful that this is something God has really brought to my attention lately. I want words of life to be overflowing from my heart and my mouth. I want my words to be acceptable in God’s sight.

How do you handle your tongue?

Blessings,