Yes, that’s what he asked me . . . straight-faced! “DO YOU HAVE GAS?”
I know firsthand how our intentions and our mouths sometimes don’t work well together. But have you noticed how everyday careless words can either make you laugh or insult you? My daughter and I had stopped at a service station convenience store to get a soda and the young man behind the counter turned to me and—yes—he asked, “DO YOU HAVE GAS?”
Well after a mutual little chuckle between my daughter and I, I looked him in the eye and responded, “No! DO YOUR FEET STINK?” Ummmm . . .
While it seemed funny to my daughter and I, the attendant did not chuckle so much! I don’t think he grasped the careless phrasing of his question. (He had been inquiring if we had filled up our car with fuel, with gasoline!)
I know sometimes my words can get rearranged from my brain to my mouth and end up sounding like a new language. When my words are too quick or careless, It can (and does) result in giggling, anger, hurt, embarrassment, and sometimes deep resentment. So, the goal of this post is to encourage us to have our brain and mouth work in unity a bit more. I’ve found that, when communicating, being gentle and quiet often works best!
“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare” (Proverbs 15:1).
“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness” (Proverbs 15:2).
“You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord” (Psalm 139:4).
Should I blame God for not editing my careless words better? After all, the Bible says He knows what I am going to say ahead of time. So if God knows I’m going to say the wrong thing, why doesn’t He stop me?! I don’t want to hurt or offend, embarrass or cause resentment with my words. Doesn’t HE know this?
Instead of blaming God for my careless words, I guess I need to listen a little better to His prompting of what to say . . . or shut up! (Yes, I know we don’t say “shut up” at my house . . . see . . . shouldn’t He have edited that sentence?) As I seek God and His wisdom, I gain discernment and wisdom and learn how to phrase gentle answers.
According to the above Scriptures:
1) Be gentle. 2) Don’t belch out words (speaking of gas . . . ). 3) Listen to your “Editor.”
Even though I can joke with others and enjoy the funny moments in life, there are times when I must learn to choose my words more carefully.
Just listen throughout your day to some of the silly things people (including yourself) say. There’s always room to edit. So, “Do you have gas?” —Submitted by Kathy, US
Speaker and Founder of A Gentle Answer Ministries
mikan14 on January 19, 2011 at 11:01 am
yeah, me too, I can relate to that!… Sometimes, in different circumstances, I want to tell what goes around my head, but when I’ve already said it, it sounds like the opposite of what I really meant.. So when I go home, I try to review almost everything I’ve said and done on that day. I also remember this verse in Matthew 12:36-37 .. So we must be really think right before we speak and act 🙂
Joe de bora on January 20, 2011 at 2:28 am
Gas….Over and over,we may speak to others,but not with the negative thought as it may apply in that context. I often find myself in such situations,then i come back to evaluate myself and try as much as possible to understand the environment am in. This requires God given wisdom.
agentleanswer on January 19, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@ mikan14, the minute the words were out of my mouth I wished for a rewind button!
I wonder how many of us have sent a regretful email or text, uttered hurtful or unkind or just careless words that we wish we could take back?
Ummm….that would be ALL of us.
I am working on this!
Lord, please let me submit to you as my editor.
Amen
Thanks
K
AManofGod on January 19, 2011 at 9:20 pm
I don’t think we realize the great power in our tongues! The words we use can build up people, and those same words can just as easily tear people down. We need to keep this in mind. I know I have often hurt people with my words when I carelessly say things and only when I am the recipient of painful words do I reralize the weight of my transgressions.
I prayu that I can keep this devotional on my heart as I make my walk in Christian faith this new year.
AManofGod
R R Kelkar on January 19, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Kathy, I liked that.
agentleanswer on January 20, 2011 at 12:04 am
R R Kelkar, glad you liked it and Glory to God if it encouraged or made you giggle.
AManofGod, let’s all keep each other in prayer as we work on this. Thankful for the Body of Christ….thankful for ODJ for the encouraging platform and devotions.
plumbape on January 20, 2011 at 1:24 am
I have mostly electric but yes some gas…..
agentleanswer on January 20, 2011 at 5:17 pm
plumbape
Yep…that’s what I mean…..
;0)