Big Mouths

Hebrews 13:1–16

Those of us with big mouths (me) have a tendency to stick our foot in it. I am married to a man who visibly takes his time forming thoughts before carefully translating them into words. He doesn't have to do nearly as much cleanup work as I do in conversation. Until he entered my life, it never occurred to me that you could or should think before you speak.

So what am I to do when silence isn't an option and the unfiltered version is a mess? Hebrews 13 offers a pretty direct answer: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

When I feel that old familiar complaint bubbling up, I've found that if I open my mouth and declare one of my countless blessings aloud instead, it completely obliterates the unhappy thought. The other people in the room can sigh in relief that they don't have to find somewhere to retreat to. Suddenly my cramped kitchen is a blessing that gives me a place to feed my family. The kid who "always" has a meltdown is a gift from God that fills my life with laughs and cuddles. I find I have about a thousand praises to declare for every one complaint. It turns out praise doesn't just change what comes out of your head. It changes what's going on inside it.

A prayer of St. John Chrysostom

Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly joys. O Lord, deliver me from eternal torments. O Lord, whether I have sinned by mind or thought, by word or deed, forgive me. Amen.

Counting blessings out loud,

Grace Sewell