Lately, I’ve been surprised, no, actually shocked, by how people can go on and on and blow a gasket over something small. I saw a woman in the parking lot getting out of her car and descending on a young man. 

Shame, the guy just stood there waiting for the auntie to stop ranting. But wow, her words were not so refined. And her volume button pushed all the way into the red for everyone to hear. 

She was clearly angry and eventually got into her car still grumbling and sped away. The poor guy picked up his things and went on his way home quite shocked by the woman’s tirade. 

I thought about the incident for a long time and realized how much the woman had actually said about her own life. You see, when you open your mouth, you automatically open the door of your heart. 

I could clearly see what was going on in the woman’s heart. I could see what she thought of other people. I could see that she had no respect for herself or her fellow man. She didn’t worry about anyone hearing how dirty her mouth was. 

There was no love to be seen. There was no caring. She did not leave a good taste in the mouth of anyone who heard, saw and experienced her.  

Matthew 12:34 says: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”. What spilled out of that woman’s mouth showed a heart that didn’t smell good. A not-so-nice heart. And what comes out is not pleasant for other people to hear. 

We must keep our tongues under control. Just as a match can cause a big wildfire, the tongue can set the world on fire, soon leaving only black, burned-out relationships in its wake. 

If you want a better life and things to go well with you, you have to send a positive message to the world. Then you have to make sure that your heart is pure and the words that come out of your mouth build and do not break.  

“Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good ….” 

All of us are open books. We think we are very private, but actually, everyone sees exactly what is going on inside us via our tongues. Although, I know, sometimes a word slips out when we get a fright or stub a toe. 

Therefore, we must keep Peter’s suggestion in mind. Just put a full-time guard in front of your mouth and make sure that you’re not caught off guard by a fright, hurt or anger. Then, when you open your mouth, it releases a nice aroma into the world. 

Let us heal with our words. Let us speak well with our words, and let us always, always speak only the truth. Then we will live a truly meaningful life. 

Scripture
1 Peter 3:8-12

Reflection
Is there a guard in front of your mouth?
What picture do people see of your heart when you open your mouth?
How can you appoint a guard? 

Prayer
Father, I sometimes slip up and I know the picture people see of my heart is not so pretty. Help me to think before I speak. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.