“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a beach in the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“I’m hungry…” With much disdain for the plastic contents inside Barbie’s little pink refrigerator, I slam the door shut.
“Yeah, I’m hungry, too.” Laura sets her doll carefully on the couch in the dream house.
We both race up the basement steps and peek through the small crack in the door at the top.
Mr. P.’s baldhead was shaking from side to side. He was clicking his tongue in angry disapproval at the evening news.
“Be very quiet…my dad’s in a bad mood.” Laura spoke in a hushed tone and shrugged her shoulders.
“You’re dad’s always in a bad mood.” I wasn’t surprised. Running into Mr. P. was always the worst part of my weekend fun.
We both hear the keys rattle in the front door. Molly, the family poodle yelped and ran around in circles. The door opens.
“Oh girl. This food isn’t for you!” Mrs. P. lovingly shoos the excited dog as the thick scent of pepperoni pizza fills the kitchen.
“Mommy!” Laura bursts through the basement doors. I follow quickly behind. The two of us dance around in circles with a now over-thrilled Molly.
“Laura, please set the table will you?” She places the steaming box on the hallway table and starts removing her coat.
“Daddy! Dinners here!” Laura slides on her socks through the kitchen.
“Uh-huh.” Mr. P. doesn’t bother looking up from the television screen.
Pushing a chair up to the counter, I climb onto the cabinets to fetch the dinner plates. Laura hastily retrieves the silverware.
The P. family had a ‘fancy’ way of doing…everything. They even ate their pizza with forks and knives! How I longed to have a ‘fancy’ home like that when I grew up.
The sound of the china hitting the table must have roused the grumpy Mr. P. from his favorite chair.
“Oh, I see we have ‘the Jap’ coming to join us.” He peered from the bifocals sliding down his thin nose.
I managed to escape his detection the whole night. How I longed to just disappear back into that basement with Barbie’s plastic dinner.
My heart fell in utter shame. I wasn’t sure why Mr. P. hated me with such a passion. But, I tucked the term ‘Jap’ into a corner of my mind and determined to ask my mother if he was right and if there was anything that I could do to fix it. From Mr. P.’s expression, I was sure it had to be a terrible thing.
Mrs. P.’s round cheeks flushed to a hue I had never witnessed before. She reached over and patted my arm.
“Don’t listen him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” She winked. “Your food is getting cold.”
From that day forward, I started to notice many things about me that were hard to love…and I began to see myself as someone unworthy of it.
Proverbs 15:4 tells us that a mouth that utters hatred is not a reflection of actual truth, but a reflection of a spirit that has been corrupted.
Contrary to the famous words: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”; it has been proven in the field of psychiatry that the most painful wounds (that often stay the length of a lifetime) are hurtful words.
The most powerful tool that can be used for good or evil are the words you speak and the tone that you use.
Has your mouth been the source of good or evil?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I have been hurt by the words of another, and although the words have long been spoken the pain still remains.
Lord, I know that I have also been the source of someone else’s pain with the words I have spoken in haste or anger.
Give me a heart of compassion to see other’s pain clearly as I feel my own. Give me a conscience that is sensitive to the needs of others.
Help me to be quick to ask for forgiveness and slow to say anything that may hurt another.
I give you my mouth today. If I can’t be a blessing with the things I say, I ask you to help me to say nothing at all. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: Proverbs 15:4
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!