It happened again. It always does. My mouth moved faster than my mind.
And in the wreckage, hurt and sorrow and wondering when I’ll ever learn. When will I finally understand?
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 NLT
Quick to listen, slow to speak.
Words hurt, they cut deep. The wounds they leave may heal … but the scars remain. Friendships that never quite regain the ease they once had. Relationships that carry just a tinge of distance where none had previously existed.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11 ESV
“A word fitly spoken.”
What does that look like? Maybe this?
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindess, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12 -14 ESV
Relationships need those things … compassion, kindess, humility, patience, forgiveness. And above all, love.
This week, I’m slowing down, taking inventory of my words and remembering that those things come much easier when I’m slow to speak.
What lesson is God teaching you lately about relationships?
My mouth is like that too at times. God has been teaching me so much about words this past year, about being very slow with what I say and WHAT I say. I think sometimes we all say way more than needed..and for me this gets me into trouble more than once :S
I imagine it’s a fairly common issue … hence the need for so much Scripture devoted to our speech. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
I’ve learned this the hard way, through making tough mistakes in parenting. There’s been a lot of asking for forgiveness and praying that what I’ve said in a moment of anger or haste won’t stick to the heart. What is He teaching me about relationships? That love is the basis for all of them, it has to be.
Shelly Miller recently posted…When You Aren’t Ready to Answer . . . Love Waits
So, so true, Shelly. Love is the basis.
I too often ask forgiveness from our three boys for things I’ve said. But I’ve had to take it a step further and ask God to restore the years the locusts ate. The boys always offer their forgiveness freely, but I don’t want things to be scarred and awkward. So I believe God, over and over for his mercy and complete restoration of relationships.
Audra, yes there are those times when we experience full restoration and I’m so thankful for that!
I too often need to ask forgiveness from our 3 boys for things I’ve said. But now I have to take it a step further in believing God for complete restoration so that things aren’t awkward in our relationship.
Audra Krell recently posted…I’m My Own Trapper Keeper
I know this too well. I experienced this very thing last week and I’m still aching from how I still fall into this sin from time to time. Always thankful for forgiveness and grace, and praying that I learn to hold my tongue better in the future. Thank you for this, Teri Lynne.
Kris recently posted…Praying For Compassion
Oh Kris! I am with you. Thank you for stopping by here today and sharing.
I purchased your book! After coming across your blog the second time and seeing it, I thought maybe I should check it out. It was a God thing! It is addressing some heart issues I have been trying to figure out lately. One of your prayers hit the nail on the head. Thank you, Tammy