Graceful Living

Read Proverbs 29

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

Proverbs 29:20

Miss Manners, Peggy Post, and Martha Stewart make a robust living off the premise that some things are just not done. The published pontiffs of politeness agree: Opening our mouths with our foot nearby is one of them. This proverb reminds us that someone who speaks without thinking is worse off than the fool who doesn’t know any better. There is hope for fools to recover gracefully—no one expects anything from them. However, when it comes to being able to inflict pain with our words, friends, not fools, have the edge.

Proverbs reminds us that our tongues contain the power to ravage a friendship when our speech is not in sync with our minds. Until we have prayed through a piece of advice for a friend, we have no right to share it. Unless we have thought through our own responsibility in a matter, we can’t adequately bring up a grievance against another person. Thinking it through before speaking our minds can save many people a lot of wasted and hurtful words.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Think before engaging the tongue.

Today, Lord, may my words be few. Give me wisdom to speak only what is important and encouraging today.