25-1 Odds

James 3:5 The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.

Wow, the tongue...what damage it can do. It only takes a few minutes of hanging with some kids or teens to know that. How many of us have some "language baggage" from our childhood or teen years? That's why I want to everything possible to be positive...especially with kids.

But let's look beyond the obvious like curse words, gossip, or hurtful words. What about just negatives? While taking a course on Positivie Discipline for the classroom, I discovered something... I was actually more negative than positive with my words. I was amazed at how many times a day I said NO or NOT or DON'T. I was equally surprised how hard it was to STOP doing it. Trying to say only the positive and say only what you want instead of just what NOT to do was a hard habit to start. Now it is a good habit / second nature.

It was worth the months of practice it took because here are the odds...
It takes 25 positive statements to erase 1 negative one!
So how are your words?

Queen JJ

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine

Unlike my sister I have never had a potty mouth (after all I am the good child)! It is true, that on occasion, I have been known to let it fly with the best of them (Amy), but I am much too worried about what others think to let it get out of control. However, I have a problem that is as equally, if not more poisonous. I am a complainer. I try to mask it as "concern", but the truth is... it's just complaining. You see I have a deep embedded sense of justice. I hate it when things are unfair or people get away with stuff and I make it my "job" to point it out. I will go on and on and on and on about how unfair it is and how that person is getting away with something. I just can't let it go. I worry about it so much that it literally eats me up inside and I drive myself and everyone around me nuts! But here's the thing. It's not my business to judge. When I finally realized that fact, I felt like a HUGE weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I am not the one who has to carry that burden. That is for God and guess what? He doesn't need my help or my view of justice.

This summer has been a time of introspection for me. There are things about my character that I don't like and I am working to change. Complaining is one of them. It brings me and those around me down. I want to be seen as a postive, the glass is half full, kind of person. It's hard to change a 37 year habit, but I am working on it.

1 Corinthians 10:10 - And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Job 10:1 - I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

Ephesians 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.

FOUL!!

If I wasn’t too old to be punished by my mama, I’d be walking around with a bar of soap in my mouth 24/7. Let’s just say I have a serious case of potty mouth! I will say I have tried to tame it down these last few years but it is hard. Sometimes the only thing I can say that gets my point across is a dirty one! Come on, you know what I mean…you’ve done it too.

I grew up with a very foul-mouthed Grandfather who used GD like it was his job. I NEVER use that word…must be my good Baptist upbringing! But I did learn quite a bit from him and developed my own bad habit. When I was younger, I knew when to use the bad words and when not to. At home my parents found it somewhat amusing when I threw it in conversation as a joke. I NEVER cussed in public being the daughter of a preacher and all. But then when I was out in the world on my own, it became a habit that I no longer hid and it got out of control.

In church yesterday we sang an old favorite of mine…Thy Word. The lyrics of this song are a perfect reminder of why it is necessary to be careful with our choices of words and language.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path

If the Bible is our guide, here is what it says about our language:

Ephesians 5:4 – ‘Dirty stories, foul talk and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead remind each other of God’s goodness and be thankful’

Exodus 20:7 – ‘You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently, nor use it to swear to a falsehood. You will not escape punishment if you do.’

Colossians 3:8 – ‘But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.’

Proverbs 13:3 – ‘He who guards his lips guards his soul, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.’

Colossians 4:6 – ‘Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.’

1 Timothy 4:12 – ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Not only is what we believe reflected in what we say, but our manner of speech will influence others. Choose your words carefully. I’m getting better at it and this is a great reminder!