“Make sure your words are sweet because you might have to eat them one day.” John Osteen.
There is a reason why God admonishes us to make sure we are not going to bed with anger and angry words in our heart toward our spouse. Don’t go to bed angry with words of death ready to bust out at the slightest provocation. Eph. 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. What if your spouse were to pass away during the night? Would the rest of your life be haunted with a twinge of guilt that the devil could bring up regularly to accuse you?
Was the last sound that came from your teenager a slamming door and a barrage of acrimonious slander toward God and man? After years of no communication over a stupid argument, how many parents would now put up with a tattoo or two and a ring here and there just to have their son back in right standing with the family? No saints, these are not happy thoughts. These things are going on all over and all the time. The Lord is the only one with the right answer for these sad cases. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I will paraphrase the prodigal son’s last words to his father. “Give me my money and get out of the way, I’m going to do it my way.” Luke 15:16 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.
We all know the story of how this brat came to himself when he was coveting the pig food the pigs were eating. The son said (paraphrased), “I’ve messed up royally, and I need to go home and apologize to my father who has always been good and fair to me.” Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Why was he able to go back? Because his father had not used the self-righteousness card when he had the right and the chance to do it. The father had remained a loving father who kept his last words sweet toward his son who was shaming him publicly. What courage and fortitude it took for the father to see his son through the eyes of God. We too are so fortunate to have a loving heavenly Father with kind words for us.
Maybe it is time to pick up the phone, write, email or face time that family member who is estranged because of poorly chosen words in the heat of the argument. Maybe it is time to be righteous, rather than right.
I know you can do it because Jesus’ last words were a promise of power that would come from the Holy Spirit upon us to do what it will take to get the love of God filling the earth. So, I know you can call those who are hurt and make your words as sweet as the love of God so they will come home. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
This has been on my heart for a very long time. Thank you for this good word.