I was at a little league softball game the other day. As happens with children—they don’t have major league umpires. The refs might miss a few calls. Everybody just kind of smiles and knows that’s part of the game at this age, and they move on. One parent was yelling at the umpire and the other team’s coach. The yelling wasn’t just about missed calls. It turned into some pretty awful comments about them as people. He made ugly references to their weight, their intelligence, and beyond. Someone noticed me looking a little askance at that person. They leaned in and told me that the guy was a really good guy with a good heart who just sometimes got a little overheated. I hate to admit it, but I doubt that’s true. What comes out of our mouths reflects what’s in our hearts—especially when pressure is applied, even in the form of a little kids’ softball game. This whole section of Proverbs talks about those who try to hide who they really are. But Solomon makes it clear that the real person is found out at some point. The challenge for us is to have our hearts reflect our desire to be seen as kind, considerate, and caring people. The real challenge is to actually be those people. As we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell deeply in us and work powerfully through us, we become more and more like that every day. Today, watch what you say and be kind. #BeTheEdge #LoveJesusBeKind
“Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV
