Shhhhh.

                                                            “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”

                                                                             ― Mahatma Gandhi

“An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.” Proverbs 12:13  I think both these quotes illustrate that we don’t have to say much but when we do it should be the truth and fruitful.

As much as I wouldn’t seem like a person to “pop off” or “snap” on anyone, recently I’ve been confronted with the lesson of holding my tongue.  In work settings this may mean an “ok” instead of a long rebuttal.  

        I think there is victory in not always having to have the last word; strength in humility.  Where’s the victory in winning battles that won’t matter in a month or even a week?  Another area I’ve been holding my tongue involves patience.  Prime example: a few weeks ago I had a hair appointment at 10 am and my stylist didn’t come until 10:40am.  As the clock ticked I was getting my speech together about how my time is valuable and I had things to do. I should get a discount because she was late. But I decided not to say anything when she arrived and I’m glad I didn’t.  My hair stylist has diabetes and she was running late because her husband insisted she take the time to eat breakfast; an actual breakfast that he cooked.  It was selfishness that made we want to snap.  But I’m glad I didn’t.  There is joy in that peace when you don’t snap.  You save yourself the embarrassment of looking crazy.  When we don’t speak or pause to think before we speak God could be saving and protecting us from so much.  You can’t take words back but you can celebrate in the joy of never saying them.