Last week my talk dripped of sarcasm, not at all unusual.
Last week I forgot to press the edit button in my head, and when I thought something, it immediately came racing out of my mouth, and often with a sharp edge.
Last week instead of being funny, I crossed over into being mean.
Last week I wondered what the nonstop moving of my mouth had to do with my family’s overall goal of GIVING.
So I thought and
thought and
thought and
thought and
Oh yeah, I’ve got it.
Part of being able to GIVE to others is to actually be able to see and HEAR their needs. Hearing about the needs of others is impossible when sarcasm is oozing out my mouth.
Thankfully, God has blessed me with a clean, fresh and new week starting today. Actually, starting right now. So my mouth is closed people, and I’m excited to see and HEAR what I’ve been missing.
What about you? Do you struggle with talking over the needs of others?
12 comments:
Isnt' it nice to know after we have opened our mouth that we have a second chance to SHUT UP and start over again? Life or death in the tongue I am always reminding myself and my kids this. I get the whole 'sarcasm' thing. And yes, it's Monday and time to start over AGAIN! Have a great week!
My sarcasm can suddenly turn and get a sharp edge too. It's a fine line that I really need to watch. To be such a sensitive person, easily hurt by another's sarcasm, you'd think I'd do a better job watching my own mouth!
Oh you are speaking my language Amy! I too have a bit of sarcasm seep into my conversations and I have to conciously hit my pause button before it spills out and takes on a life of it's own. As I get older, I notice how rare a quality it is to find someone who actually listens when someone is speaking rather than thinking about their come back or next thought they have to wedge into the conversation. I need to work on my self control in this area...or just buy a big old role of duct tape :)
I love the picture, Amy, and yes, I can relate. I do this more with my family than anyone else, though. I suppose we show our worst sides to them because we know they will still love us at the end of the day. But I do want to be better. Can I have a clean slate, too? Thank you!
It's funny...on days when I am particularly perturbed with my kids for being ungrateful, selfish, rude....if I stop and take a look at the kinds of things that have been coming out of my own mouth it is a definite eye opener. Their attitudes and feelings are so often a reflection of our own!! Not all the time...but a lot of the time!!
Glad you are enjoying Radical.
Awesome picture reference :)
I struggle with trying to "fix-it" all the time. When I don't have the patience for the dribblings of people whose problems I deem "silly", I can be downright mean as well. I try to fix the problem for them so they will be done complaining and we can move on.
You are NOT ALONE!!!
Sarcasm can be a way of life around our house, and although it has served me well as a high school teacher, it is not always conducive to being relational and can lead me to be very judgmental and hurtful. Anne Lamott has a great quote about grace in which she says something to the effect that grace is the five seconds between a thought entering her head and coming out of her mouth. :-) How I pray for grace some days!!
Oh dang... GREAT post! I think that for me this goes beyond just sarcasm, but just into a whole self-centered perspective that I know I need to get over sometimes when talking to others. This is a great reminder to get our attention off of ourselves, and onto other people and how we can help/bless them... starting with the (simple) act of listening.
Wow... thanks!
I totally get this post. It is something I have to remind myself of over and over, especially when it comes to my kids. Sometimes the whiny voices just seem to take over and I try to drown them out with my own voice. I need to be reminded to listen again, cause that usually stops the escalating whine anyway. And why did I have kids if I'm not going to listen to them and help them or enjoy their little stories. Thanks for your post! ~Jessica
Rejoicing in the silence that follows a mouth closed shut. Mine.
Delighted to meet you today! Hope you don't mind if I splash around a bit to get to know you. This looks like a refreshing place to get drenched in goodness.
Splashin,
Sara
Apparently I am your long lost twin. Sometimes I know that my mouth needs to JUST STOP but I don't!!!!
happy to follow back. when you decide to open up again I am excited to read what comes out! ;)
www.melonbelly.blogspot.com
I so struggle with that too. Thanks for the great reminder. Thanks, also, for visiting my blog and commenting. Blessings!
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