CUP OF COMFORT: Cover Your Mouth

“Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed.”

Psalm 141:3

• With my friend crying on my shoulder over the serious results of repeating a bit of gossip she believed was true, I thought of some first-grade advice: “Cover your mouth!” This rule for my young students is printed on the chalk- board and read aloud at least once every day. You don’t want to be coughed on, Suzie? Then don’t cough on someone else, for coughs and sneezes spread diseases. Does God ever tell us to cover our mouths? Yes. Because words spoken too lightly, sent out on the air like moisture drop- lets from sneezes, can never be retracted. Even a sincere apology won’t undo the damage. I remember when doctors used to judge our health by how our tongues looked. It seems that God, our Great Physician, measures spiritual health by how our tongue . . . speaks. When the mouth is closed, the tongue can’t do much damage.

#cupofcomfort #inspiration