Proverbs 29:20 Where are those bandaids?

There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

Hasty words.

There is a lot of pain in those two words, isn't there?

My grandma used to say that it was "running your mouth before your brain was engaged."

Hasty words have caused hurt feelings for spouses, hurt souls for children, and sometimes have ended careers as well as relationships.

Words really do mean something. What you say today, this morning, can have repercussions all day, all week, and on and on. Perhaps the rest of your life.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Eccl. 5:2)

 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19)

There are loads of examples of politicians and preachers alike who have opened their mouth before their brain was engaged. But you and I do this at home, too, don't we?

I'm sure that as spouses and parents we have all said things that we can never take back. We may have hurt souls, young and old, with our rashness and temper. Looking back, we've been foolish.

While I go and get that box of bandaids for my own toes, and possibly yours, let's make a new dedication of ourselves to avoid hasty words. Let's think carefully before we respond to anyone, particularly to our spouses and our children. They are going to remember, and our relationships will be affected by rash speech and unkind words. It's easier to erase a "whupping" from one's mind than it is a verbal lashing.
We need to think before we speak, especially if we are angry, or if we are hurt, ourselves. Let's not be foolish.