Have you ever wished you could take back something you’ve said? or written?

That has happened (more than once) to me.  Let’s be serious – more than, more than, more than once.  Like, too many times when Virginia just could not keep her (big) mouth shut.  (A bit opinionated & a wee bit vocal about her opinions.. & a juggernaut, to boot!)

Once released into the word-stratosphere, words are hard to take back.  “They had words.”  He said, she said.. it was said. Then there are written words, typed words, texts. With our nifty iGadgets & computers we can hit delete; but as a few (not very nice) Twitterers now know, after their violent derogatory words are released – they can be found by mad dads (& lose their jobs & opportunities to play sports..)

Words have consequences.  They can lift up or tear down.

“Mere silence is not wisdom, for wisdom is knowing when and how to speak and when and where to keep silent.”  St. Francis de Sales

We need God’s wisdom, lots of it!  Not that we should not speak (our silence could condone derogatory defamation of others) or get too paralyzed by fear of the status quo to communicate, but maybe sometimes we need to pray before we speak (or communicate in any way…)  A quickie prayer, but this one has helped juggernaut Virginia over the years tone it down:

“Lord, please transform my heart and mind with Your wisdom — may the words of my mouth & mind filter through the Light of Your love and Truth.  May i BE Your Truth. May i BE Your Light… may i BE Your Love …in all i do.   Amen.

Short & sweet … but a reminder to think (& pray a little) before we speak.

grace, peace & WORDS, WORDS

    Virginia : )

p.s. As we continue our Lenten journey, here’s a great quote from Henri Nouwen along these lines in a previous post.  Click here… Henri Nouwen-Bread for the Journey