Restraining

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My days are full of constant chatter.

It doesn’t matter if the chatter is interesting, life shattering, or pertinent.

What does matter is how I process what I hear.

I admit some days I want to shout,

“Shut Up, People. I don’t care, and neither does anyone else,”

but

I don’t.

Instead, I smile and try not to be judgmental.

Surely you have felt this way, too, haven’t you?

Surely you know what I mean, right?

Some days, and more often than not, I don’t want to be the receiver, or the giver, for that matter.

Some days I just simply want to be, period.

 Receiving without judging is tough.

Suppose you hear gossip, juicy gossip, what do you do with it?

Judge?

Comment?

The best advice that I have ever received came from a person who said,

“When I receive criticism or gossip, I nod my head and say,’Hmmm, is that right.'”

I use this polite gesture often and time after time it has saved me from not only being a fool, but from also looking like a fool!

In fact, I have even offered this advice to others.

Proverbs 17:27-28 says:

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Dear God:

Make me strong.

Make me strong when receiving others’ words and not weak to give in to idle gossip and to words that hurt.

Remind me often that the words that I say can never be retracted.

Help me to choose my words carefully, being slow to speak and even slower to anger.

Restrain me and my words, Lord.

Amen