Tongue Dung

Have you ever had tongue dung before? You know what I'm talking about... You know, that conversation where half way through you realize that you need to shut up, but you fear that the damage is already done? That's what I call "tongue dung". Well this past week I was meeting with a sister in Christ, having some coffee, talking about life and Truth. In the midst of one of our conversations, I realized that I had a little tongue dung in my mouth.  Immediately my mind started racing. Have I just offended my precious sister? Have I hurt her, made her feel angry, lost her trust? Our conversation moved on, but I feared that I had done some damage with my words.

Later that night I mulled over the conversation. The more I thought about what I had said, the worse I felt. (I wasn't taking my thoughts captive!) I prayed that God would forgive me and help me next time to really consider my words before they ever leave my mouth. Eventually I fell asleep, but with a plan to get in touch with my friend as soon as possible, the next day. 

The next morning I woke up and left my friend a message on her phone.  And then I waited. As the day went on, I had to practice resting in the truth that God is in control.  All the while, my Father was hitting home the lessons: Be slow to speak, quick to listen... He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity... A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. My heart was humbled and broken.

That night I got in touch with my friend. I apologized for my blunder and asked for her to forgive me. Then I asked if I had offended her. "No" she said. "I haven't even thought twice about that." She explained that the reason she never returned my call was because she had left her phone at home.
I immediately knew that that was no mistake. God used that "suspense" to teach me the hard lesson: we are accountable for our words. James 3 talks about how the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can do a forest fire worth of damage.

Now, after being greatly humbled and disciplined by my Heavenly Father, I am camping out on Psalm 19:14: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. This is the mouthwash that keeps tongue dung away!!!