A Mom's Moment

"Words"

by Grace Fox
Women Alive Online Magazine, March 2007

The other day I came across a tidbit of wisdom worth posting on the fridge door: Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

How true! Kids have a way of parroting their parents' remarks, and that can sometimes prove embarrassing, especially if they blurt them to the wrong people. That's what happened to Cherise. She'd battled a headache all afternoon. When the phone rang, she groaned. "I hope it's not Mrs. So-and-so (not her real name!). I can't handle speaking with her right now." Then Cherise asked her six-year-old daughter, Cyndi, to answer the phone.

Cyndi obeyed. "Hello," she said politely. She listened for a moment and then said, "No. My mom says she can't handle speaking with you right now."

Cherise stared at Cyndi with disbelief in her eyes. Then she moaned and hid her face in a cushion, regretting the words she'd expressed and wondering how she'd redeem herself the next time she saw her neighbor.

Whether our kids are toddlers or teens, our words matter. The lyrics to a well-known Sunday school chorus echo this reminder:

"Oh be careful little mouth what you say,
Oh be careful little mouth what you say,
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
Oh be careful little mouth what you say."

As a young girl, I considered this a fun and simple little song. But as I grew older, I realized that its command was more than just a lilting lyric; it was an instruction based in Scripture. Psalm 19:14 says, "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

It's true - our speech matters to God. In fact, our words are so important that the book of Proverbs is filled with guidelines by which to measure them. A favorite is "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body" (16:24). And then there's "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger" (15:1), "Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person's lips bring satisfaction" (18:20), and "Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit" (15:4). That's just the beginning!

According to Scripture, our words possess the power to either destroy or to build up. Wise and gentle words affirm and bless those to whom we speak. They also please God. So, moms, let's choose our words wisely. By doing so, we set an example for our kids of all ages. And hey - if our children are going to quote us, let's give them something positive to say.