“Dirt out of the mouth”

Matthew 15:11 (NIV)

11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

One of my early lessons I received from my dad was on watching my language. My dad would spend a lot of time with us kids. He would shoot hoops with my brother and me. He also would hit fly balls to us boys. I can remember when I was probably in the 4th or 5th grade, my dad was hitting us fly balls. I let the ball get by me and let a word slip out of my mouth. Dad stopped and asked me, “what did you say?” I told him what I said. He then asked me, “where did you hear that?”, because he knew I didn’t hear it from him. I told him, I heard it from someone, thinking if they said it, I would be OK. That wasn’t the case.

The next few words my dad said to me has stuck with me for over 50 years. Dad said, “the dirt coming out of your mouth hurts you more than the dirt that goes into your mouth”. This was the kind of dad, I had. He loved his kids and faith was very important to him. I wish I could say I had always watched my tongue like I should, but I do remember my dad’s warning.

I had a choice then and I must make choices every day on my words. The bible tells us that we should guard our tongues. I would be lying if I said, I always have done this over the years, the bible talks about lying also. 😊

Proverbs 21:23 (NIV)

23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

As we go through the day lets guard our tongue, because the results of what we say can have long lasting effects. How many family relationships have been damaged by just a few words? With God’s help we can get help in guarding our tongues.

James 3:8

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.