Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Quick.
Nowadays, it seems everyone has an opinion and is more than willing to share it. Arguments can break open over a plethora of subjects.
Yet James tells us what we already know to be true: we are to listen and respond slowly; and be even slower in getting angry.
“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.†(James 1:19, NASB)
Years ago at a Women of Faith conference, I heard Patsy Clairmont say that God gave her the most useful tool for those times when her mouth was ready to spew – she put her hand over her mouth and held it there long and hard. She then continued to share that in especially challenging times, He gave her two hands to clap over her mouth.
It is not a weakness to withhold your words or your anger. In fact, the cross reference in my Bible pointed me to this verse:
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.†(Proverbs 16:32, NASB)
We are mightier, and able to win over more people,
when we are quick to listen
and slow to anger.
Today
I may be joining …
If you care ’bout what I think,
you don’t have to go too far.
Just come and buy me a drink
in the nearest biker bar,
and I will elucidate
on Indians and Harleys,
and on Triumphs (which are great;
in surfer-speak, they’re gnarly).
But politics and social stuff
are left to longhairs sipping tea
in Starbucks where there ain’t enough
intelligence for likes of me,
’cause discussions that are big-words-full
are symptoms of an empty skull.
Andrew, you amaze me with the way you pull words together each week. Your comments are a gift! Truly!
How much hurt and strife could be avoided if we were quick to listen and slow to speak, as James tells us!? Visiting from FMF#11
Indeed there would be much conflict that would be avoided. May we constantly pray Psalm 19:14 over our words – both spoken and written.
I love that idea about putting the hand over the mouth, I’m going to have to use that the next time I get angry. I don’t get angry often, but when I do, I really do. Ouch! Thanks for the reminder about being slow to speak. If we did that more often, we would be a whole lot better off.
I so agree, Rishie. We need time to process our emotions before we speak.
Such Wisdom here! (As always!). It was nice to read your words again, my friend!
Blessings,
~Karrilee~
Great Bible verse. Just the reminder I needed.
💗Terri #4 FMF
Thank you, Karrilee. It’s nice to see you here as you always bring encouragement!
We were both drawn to James 1:19, Joanne. Patsy Clairmont’s illustration drives the point home for us to do whatever it takes for there to be a watch over our mouth.
I can still see her face, all these years later, as she made the point. It was done in her unique style of humor but … it was a point not forgotten!
I loved your post so I shared it on Facebook and Pinterest and twitter. Needed advice in our daily living on planet Earth 🌸
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
I like that cross reference.
sometimes, using your body to slow the words that might issue forth is the best thing to do….. sometimes even just walking away.
It seems we have it backwards these days; instead of being slow to anger and slow to speak, we’re quick to anger and quick to speak. Thanks for the reminder to put our hands over our mouths when we need to be quiet! 🙂