PUT A LEASH ON IT!!!

Here in the hood, the jungle drums beat wildly if a dog is spotted roaming free.  Why we have laws against dogs roaming free here---there are very busy streets all around me---the train track is just down the street--some poor pooch has lost his owner----and the militia is called out with an APB for the lost owners.

The answer seems fairly simple to me----PUT A LEASH ON IT!  If you know he is prone to taking off and running when spotting daylight----WHY? would you not keep a leash on it at all time?  I am no genius---BUT

NOW HOLD ON TIGHT---I am about to circle the wagons----this post is NOT about keeping your dog on a leash. Instead somehow I ended up there when thinking about loose tongues.  A friend texted ---"Please do not share this information---it is personal"  and my mind was off and racing.  Why is there a need to ask someone to not repeat a conversation?  Probably because at some point in a relationship, we are all guilty of sharing information of a personal nature. Some sick part of us--feels the need to share we are in the know---on the cutting edge of the latest information.

We Southerners like to begin with, "Bless their heart" and then after a good blessing we are off and running with the latest information.  One sure fire cure for spreading the news--is being the news---not so fun on that side of the coin.  I have learned to not talk about the news.

I have also had a few tongue lashings ---all for the sake of setting me straight---and informing me of an opinion.  A word laid is a word played---those words with the intent to hurt--or with the result of hurt---are never forgotten.  Every word that was ever uttered telling me what was wrong with me is permanently inscribed upon my heart.  Forgiveness comes easy, but a bruised and damaged self leaves a permanent scar.  God's acceptance of me is a given--and not the purpose of this post.

The purpose---put a leash on your tongue!  Carefully consider your words and their lasting consequences before unleashing a wild torrent of verbal bombs.  The Word speaks of the need for this very thing, but we become like wild dogs set free when given the opportunity to let our tongues go before our minds.  As Momma used to say, 

"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 

Proverbs 12:18