A Revelation at Mealtime
Many things are opened by mistake,
but none so frequently as the mouth.
The results can be revealing.
A man sat down to supper with his family. As usual, he said grace,
thanking God for the food, for the hands that prepared it, and for
the source of all life.
As the meal proceeded, the man began to complain. The bread was
not fresh enough, he grumbled. The cheese was too sharp. And the
coffee was hotter and bitter than he preferred. After a while, his
young daughter looked at him, perplexed. “Dad,” she
asked, “do you think God heard the grace today?” He
answered confidently, “Of course.”
Then she asked, “And do you think God heard what you said
about the coffee, the cheese, and the bread?” Not so confidently,
he answered, “Why, yes, I believe so.” The little girl
concluded, “Then which do you think God believed, Dad?”
The man usually had a quick response to any question his daughter
asked. Now, he sat in stunned silence. The man realized that his
mealtime prayer had become a well-practiced habit in which he said
words that made him look and feel good. He also saw how his real
attitude, as revealed by the spontaneous words in his complaints,
was not what he wanted, or even liked.
How Does This Apply To Our Lives?
The story illustrates an interesting thing about the tongue. It
can be helpful, or destructive. The tongue can encourage, or discourage.
It can spread love, or spew forth venom.
The difference is not in the tongue itself. The difference is in
one’s heart. Many hidden diseases of the body are detected
when doctors look into the mouth. Hidden diseases of the spirit
and mind are revealed by what comes out of the mouth.
You see, people get the picture of whom you really are by the way
you use your tongue. Fortunately, you can frame the content of that
picture. As Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool is thought
wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
Evaluate the words you use and your tone of voice. What picture
are you painting of yourself with the things that come out of your
mouth?
But don’t stop with the question of your appearance. Consider
what your words and tone of voice say about your spiritual and mental
conditions. Do the things that come out of your mouth reflect God’s
values and standards? If they don’t, why not?
For your own health and happiness, deal with the conditions these
symptoms reveal. A heart problem can be extremely dangerous if you
fail to give it proper attention.
Asiah Abdul Latif
Y.E.S.
Young Enlightened Submitters
There are reading materials available for our Young
Enlightened Submitters on the internet.
If you have access to internet, you can get to these materials at
submission.org/yes
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