I think as women sometimes our own insecurities destroy our filter. We say way to often the first thing our insecurities bring to our minds. Most the time it's the thing we think will help us feel better about ourselves, all the while making others feel bad about themselves. My friend Jeanne told me a great quote she heard from a wise man (Bob Eubanks). He said, don't blow someone else's candle out in order to make yours shine brighter. I thought about that for a minute, and then said even better blow your own candle out so they can shine alone.
As women we can be so jealous and just insensitive. I knew a woman once that really could barely put food on her table, but she had a talent for stretching a dollar. Most of her shopping was done at the sav-a -lot grocery store. In one conversation with a few girls they asked her in almost admiration, how do you do it. So feeling proud of her talent she told them. One responded "oh I could never shop there, that store is dirty". The woman's pride quickly turned to shame. I wonder if that is what the other woman wanted. I would take a guess into her life I bet she likes the best of the best, kind of that "keeping up with the Jones's' thing. I bet her husband fusses about her spending. I think the woman's thriftiness made her jealous, and with jealously rises up a need to boost our own self worth.
We need to be really careful of the words we let out of our mouths, we need to be really careful that the habit of insensitivity does not become our character. Often the first thought that comes to mind is that flesh response that we should lock away.
Take advise from the grandparents "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing". And from the bible
EPH 4: 29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.
And let it start with me!
10 comments:
Once again, I'm sitting here with my head nodding, with an um-hmm coming out of my mouth. Unfortunately, that um-hmm is directed at myself. Girl, may God's sweet grace cover my butt!
and my mouth! :)
Hey Lori! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I love what you wrote here...it is so true! If I meditate on the end part of the verses in Ephesians, the part about only speaking what is beneficial to the person listening and what builds them up and offers grace, it really challenges my thinking!and therefore speaking, if I let it.
So, will you be at the Siesta Fiesta? Hope to see you there :)
One of my favorite scripures is "Put a guard oh Lord over my mouth, watch over the door of my lips!" Great post!
Thanks for the sweet comment. I see you have 2 that I am sure have your heart as well! :) God is so amazing to give us His heart for our kids!
Hope to see you in SA!!
Be blessed.
You are so right on....AGAIN!! I will be printing this and reading it to my ladies Sunday school class. They were really touched by the post I read to them yesterday after I finished the lesson. You have a unique gift of cutting past the outside trappings and getting right to the heart of the matter! You've been a blessing to me!
God bless you....
Marilyn in MS
so here is some advice, keep all of these nuggets of gold, they would be a great published book one day. and again I say "right on!"
Amen sister and I'm one who needs to be constantly cleansed. Thank you for the comment on my Siesta Fiesta spotlight. Looking forward to meeting you in San Antonio.
Leah
Hi Lori! Found you from the comment you left for me regarding a certain torturous cheesecake! Great post - SO filled with truth!
Saw you were in Florida...anywhere near Tampa? That's where I'm writing from...:o)
See you in SA!
Hey! Thanks for the comment on my blog. It's always fun to find a fellow Siesta and a Reba fan to boot! Are you going to San Antonio? If so, we'll have to introduce ourselves to each other.
I also love this post. It's amazing the things that people say (myself included). Thanks for the reminder to remember Ephesians and watch my mouth!
Great post, Lori! It is so very true! There is someone in my family that I call a "bubble-burster" because if you dare to be happy or excited about anything and talk about it in front of her, she immediately comes up with all the possible bad-sides and tells you why that will never happen for you, or what's going to go wrong with it.
I like Eph 4:29"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
We need to use our words to build others up!
Blessings
Michelle
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