Zip It!

I needed something to read and motivate myself during Lent.  I am not one for giving up anything.  I try, but my 'given up' object always creeps back in quickly.  For instance, yesterday I  thought it would be a good idea to give up diet drinks, and I remembered that as I was sipping my Diet Pepsi at Taco Bell today.  Well, I meant well.

Anyway I ordered Karen Ehman's book Zip It from Amazon.  It was suggested on Proverbs 31 as a good devotional for the Lenten season.  It arrived today, just in time to begin. 

Day 1 - A Matter of Life and Death.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.  Proverbs 18:21

Think about how something said to you has had a lasting effect, either positive or negative.  Whether we realize it or not, words are powerful and they have consequences. 

We can use our speech for good or for evil.

How we wield them will affect not only our relationship with others but our relationship with God.



Today's Takeaways:
--Words are like superglue.  Before you lash out at someone in anger or leak a little sarcasm from your lips, remind yourself that your words have not only power for good or evil, but they also have staying power.

--We have a choice.  Craft your emails, texts, and social media posts and comments with care.  Be conscientious, not careless.  Impart life; don't dole out death. (I try to do this with texts and social media.  Answering emails to students was very hard.  So many comments could be misinterpreted. )

One example I remember came from high school.    My guidance counselor tried to discourage me from being a teacher, saying I didn't talk enough. I was determined to prove her wrong, and I did!  Two degrees in education.  43 years teaching.  Several awards.  Many lives touched.  So her words did encourage me, but not the way she expected.

The other things I remember in the negative sense are mostly attributed to things my mother said to me--I have no common sense ( just a couple years ago).  You live in a dump (we remodeled our farmhouse years ago but she said this three years ago)  and many more. 

But I also have lots of good comments about my family, from my students, from my daughters, from my husband, from my friends. 

Words are meaningful and have staying power.  Choose them wisely.