Back in December of last year we decided to get our children a couple of fish for Christmas.  The first few months were rough as 6 of them went to see Jesus a little too early leaving my children in mourning.  FINALLY, with the help of a friend, I found a few fish that will live for longer periods of time.  From the beginning I set out to train these fish.  Every time I was ready to feed them I would tap the top of the tank 5 or 6 times.  After a few days the fish began catching the hint.  They would immediately swim to the top after I tapped the tank realizing it was time to eat.  If you can get your hands on most any animal in its infancy state and beginning putting in the work you have the ability to train or tame that animal.  I find this amazing as I’ve seen it done with even the most dangerous of animals like lions and tigers and bears (OH MY!  Sorry couldn’t resist).  Have you ever given any thought to the one creature that can NOT be tamed.  Any guesses?!?  You might be a little surprised (or maybe not) to know this creature is a little closer to home.  It’s only a few inches from your eyes and directly below your nose.  Give up?!?  It’s your tongue!!!  I know it sounds a little weird but it’s true.

When I think of dangerous and deadly I think of guns, knives, or dental tools (just a joke-no offense to those in the dental profession)  James 3:7-8 tells us, “People can tame all types of animals and birds reptiles and fish but no one can tame the tongue.  It is an uncontrollable evil full of deadly poison.”  Who needs a snake bite to kill someone when we can do it ourselves?!?  Honestly, have you ever considered the actual power of the tongue?  I believe I’ve mentioned it before but it bears repeating.  The word reminds us there’s life and death in our tongues.  Think about it for a minute.  You know it to be fact.  Draw from your own experience for a minute.  You can be having a perfectly good day and all it takes is one idiot……pardon me…….it only takes one person who chooses not to use their words wisely and your day is shot!  And we Christians have no excuse as the Bible warns us constantly to think before we speak.  Sadly, Christians tend to be the worse and then use the Bible to justify their ignorance–but that’s another blog.  In a matter of minutes we can leave church after having just sang Amazing Grace and hop in the car only to lash out at our kids and spouse for something that really isn’t a big deal.  In a matter of seconds we can damage someone’s self esteem, wreak havoc on the happiest of those around us, bring division in one of our relationships, or cause irreversible damage to someone.  We tend to forget but some of life’s greatest lessons come from children’s songs.  As I was working on this blog I was reminded of a song we use to sing in Sunday School, “Oh be careful little feet where you go/Oh be careful little eyes what you see/Oh be careful little mouth what you say…for the Father up above is looking down in love….”

How do we fix it?  I think the first course of action is to find what genuinely lies behind that biting tongue.  What is it that is genuinely causing you to WANT to be so hateful to others?  Could it be bitterness, jealousy, unresolved issues, pride, selfishness, frustration?  The list could go on for days.  I think it becomes necessary at some point to take inventory of WHY you do what you do.  Once you’ve figured out where the root lies it then becomes possible for you to address and/or fix the issue.  Admitting your shortcomings and weaknesses don’t make you incapable of inefficient rather STRONGER!  If you call yourself a Christian do your best to speak life and blessings wherever you go.  If you carry His name stop tarnishing it!!!!  Clean up those spaces that are causing the issues and fill them with more of HIM!  Momma always said, “If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.”  In simpler terms, sometimes you just need to put the SHUT-to-the-UP!  Side note:  If you’re constantly biting your tongue maybe you should REALLY do some praying that God would give you discernment on why you continue to have the same problem with the same person over and over.  It’s simple…..give and show love.  Seems easy, right?!?  I sure hope so!!  Blessings to you all as you attempt to tame the untamable!!!