Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Taming the Tongue Tuesday!

Well I hesitate in writing this post.

Well it's time for taming our tongues...since it's Tuesday and like I said...
I hesitate in writing this post...

Well as you all know we went to Arizona last week.

As we left California, my hubby and I were very courteous to each other.

Driving through the desert, we focused on being careful with our words wisely and being considerate.
Day 1. - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

Coming into Arizona, we continued the good time.  "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2.
My hubby was completely humble...I was completely gentle...words were exchanged with consideration for the one hearing it.
-Day 2.

Well you all know where this is going.

Middle of day 3...we're outside Flagstaff...headed to the Grand Canyon...the pinnacle of our trip.
We pull into McDonald's.  I want to eat the snacks I bought...but agreed to McD's.  So I start getting a little snippy.  He snips back.  I snip back.  He snips back!  Then he asked me if "my girlfriend is coming"..."No.. silly that's next week...you're the math teacher...do the math." Then he picks up his phone to respond to THE email beeping at him.  I see that a an
total...
attack-to-our-entire-marriage-because-you'd-rather-email-your-principal-over-test-scores as oppose to feeding your children healthy food and by the way I think you're not being a good father by suggesting McDonald's! Oh and we're gonna die because you're text and driving in a parking lot!

Well...that's they way be gentle folks.

So what did my hubby do...he yanked my chain and continued to email someone from church setting up stuff for the next day! (he did pull over for the next one.) and of course I quietly waited.

Nope...I got mad...and quiet. 

Now remember we have three sets of eyes in the back WATCHING....
LEARNING HOW TO COMMUNICATE...
and 
PICKING UP WHAT WE DO...

and our boys...
have a knack for MAGNIFYING what we do 1000 times over.

Well I'm sure my hubby could have been thinking...

"Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife." Proverbs 21:19

Bottom line is...
if you are in pain...don't carry on conversations with folks.
I literally have the days before my friend show up MARKED off on the calendar.
We know that's the time when I seem to go a little wacky. (yes...more wacky than normal.)
It took my hubby and I about 5 years to figure that out.

If you know something gets on your nerves...bite your tongue.

Love covers a multitude of sins.
At that point...outside Flagstaff...my hubby and I weren't covering each other offenses.

The problem is we had the 3 sets of eyes in the back... taking it in and learning it all.

This week's lesson with taming our tongue...
before you speak...stop and see if it's really necessary to say ANYTHING!

Oh and that goes for talking about other people kids too...there is something a person said so flippantly about my kids a few days ago... but it's still RINGING... in my ears.

When folks speak without thinking...let's cover that with LOVE.

Proverbs 17:9
He who covers over an offense 
promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter 
separates close friends...






6 comments:

Breeda said...

This is great to think about for my coming weekend drive. I will absolutely use this advice.

Thank you!

really.truly said...

Yes, yes, yes....those eyes are always watching and learning from us! Ouch. Sometimes my strong will does not allow me to keep quiet and hold my tongue(with my husband) and then I regret all that the boys hear. Ugh.

good reminder here Lorrie!

More Than Words said...

Oh my gosh, I was going to use that last verse for my FB status today!! ha!

Anyway...yes...taming the tongue..so hard to do!!!!

I love these posts you share because it always speaks to me!!! So true though. You've got eyes watching and ears listening all the time! Then we wonder why our kids bicker the way they do!!

Thank you for sharing again! I can soooooooo relate!!

Bethany said...

We fought over healthy-food issues this week too. LOUDLY. Well, sometimes a fight that's a quick fire that burns out and is quickly forgotten/forgiven can be a good example to the kids.

Martha said...

Wow... I'm in love with your honesty, thank you for that! I often make snippy remarks and I forget that my little buddy is listening nearby. Even though he is only three, he is already aware of when mama is being mad at papa :o) this was a great reminder, I loved how you backed up everything with scriptures. Perfect!

Dawn said...

Great post!!
dawn
The ex-lurker;)