Here are some thoughts to remember (for me, you use them if you wish):

· Will what I have to say be important in 5 years?

· Would I like this to be the one thing I am remembered for?

· Do these words honestly reflect who I am?

· Is this the beginning of a conversation, or an end?

It seems like, for me personally, I am either saying too much or too little. Learning the fine art of conversation and using my mouth wisely is not elusive, but it does take some training.

It's like you and I are painting a picture of ourselves with the paintbrushes of our words for all the world to see . We write the script that we are acting out every day of our lives. So would the play we author be worth a second run? Third? Fourth? Four-hundredth?

I think about some of the (regretful) words I have used in parenting. I pray daily that they remember the frequent words I use and disregard the infrequent ones. I don't call my kids stupid, or ugly, or worthless. But sometimes I wonder if I have said "Not right now", or "I'm too busy right now", at just the wrong time for them. I don't lose sleep over it worrying, but I do ask God everyday to help me act and speak out of love, not fatigue or frustration. I'm still in training.

Words are powerful. Sometimes, they are the only thing we leave in the lives of those around us. I can hear in my head the words that others have spoken to me, or those I have spoken to someone.

Sometimes when I write an email, I can agonize over every single keystroke to make certain that I am communicating just what I am thinking. (scary concept)

It's so easy to be haphazard with words. I want to continue to grow in my use of this speaking mechanism God has given me.

Care to join me?