Lenten Devotional...February 28

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

(Proverbs 15:1-2)

Perhaps it has never happened to you, but most of us have had that experience along the way (some of us, several times along the way!) where we have said something that, almost immediately, we wish we could retrieve as if the words had never been spoken. Sometimes we speak from ignorance on a particular subject, sometimes we are misunderstood, and sometimes our anger in the moment gets the best of us, causing us to say something hurtful that threatens to disrupt or even break relationship with another. Have you been in that situation where, as the wise writer of our text says today, your mouth..."gushes folly"? Maybe that sounds extreme, but some of the things we say to others would surely qualify as such.

English author, Dorothy Nevill, once wrote, “The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. “ The last part of this quote is perhaps the most difficult part of managing our words and conversations, particularly in the context of argument. The desire to make our case, or worse, to have the last word, opens the door for escalating conflict and gushing folly. Jesus called his followers to an active identity as peacemakers in Matthew 5. This is an intentional approach to relationship with others that makes our words, and the attitudes behind the words, take on new significance. Instead of stirring anger through harsh words, we are to choose our words wisely so that we might be a part of the solution in conflict instead of stirring up anger.

I am not a big proponent of "giving things up for Lent." We too easily identify something that probably means little to us as an indicator of our willingness to sacrifice. Instead, I would challenge you, as I challenge myself, to consider an intentional choice to become a peacemaker in the context of conversation, to purposefully choose our words, motivated by the love of Christ instead of our own shortsighted emotional responses. Maybe it would be good to remember the words of the Psalmist whenever we open our mouths to speak..."May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, TNIV)

Prayer: Living Word, touch our hearts and our tongues with your gentle Spirit, that we may speak words that help and heal. Amen.

Jim Abernathy