From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
Well, it’s April and you know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.”
That’s all good and well but not all rain is good.
Consider, for instance, the words of Proverbs 25:23: “As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger.”
Another rendering of this same verse puts it this way: “A north wind brings stormy weather, and a gossipy tongue stormy looks.”
We can do a lot of damage with the words of our mouth.
Years ago, I had a job washing dishes in a school cafeteria.
The special one day was farmer’s sausage, which I had not eaten.
Another student asked me what I thought about this meal, and I gave my opinion, not knowing that the cook was standing right behind me! I said, “Oh, that looked like a dog’s breakfast!”
The offended cook chased me around the kitchen with a rolling pin threatening to spank my bottom!
We all laughed about it, but I felt great remorse over my unkind words and later apologized to this lady.
She graciously forgave me but I know those words hurt her deeply.
I have been out on the roads running over the years on days when there was a strong north wind with driving rain.
Let me tell you, those are miserable conditions for running.
On days like those you just want to get it over with or even wish you had simply stayed home.
How much worse is it, then, when someone is subjected to the cold, north rain of our thoughtless words.
C’mon, folks, let’s think before we open our mouths and make a big mess!
We can all do better!
