Have you ever found a book in an unlikely place and known it was written just for you? I was checking out at WalMart yesterday when I noticed a rack tucked away in a corner full of Christian based books. Yes, Wally World has a section in their book aisle devoted to Bible studies and such, but here was a display (if you could call it displayed considering where it was) of books about life with Scriptural inspiration. There were books about raising children and even pets. The book I picked up is entitiled 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue.

If you know me, you know that I don't always watch what I say. Sometimes I think my "good sense" sensor was damaged during one of my strokes. I guess it's possible, but my Free Will was not. I can control the words that come out of my mouth, but sometimes I need help realizing that what's coming out is something that needs to be controlled. I used to call it, "telling it like it is" but when I stop to think about who I'm talking to or whether I would want someone telling me these things - well...

The Bible reminds us constantly to watch our tongues. They can be full of lies, hurt, gossip, slander, rudeness, judgment (one of my biggest personal struggles), complaints, accusations, and more. Like the Ring of Power, they can betray their owners without us realizing it. James 3:8 says "No man can tame the tongue" and I believe it. Only by trusting God can we accomplish anything, and this is no exception.

I'm not talking about turning into a timid or passive lackey. I will still voice my concerns when the situation calls for it. But if you notice me (shock!) stopping to think about my words before I say them, bear with me. I am working toward the goal of Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season.

Daily Blessings

Yesterday I went with my mother-in-law to the store and we stopped to pick up Chinese food for the family for lunch. There was a homeless man out front with all his worldly possessions packed in trash bags by his side. I began thinking about how stressed I have been about my family's financial situation in the coming year.

My husband is quitting work so he can concentrate on school and finish with focused learning in 2 years, rather than working 12 hour night shifts and only being able to take a couple of classes per semester which would last 5 long years. We are rolling his 401(k) into an IRA and withdrawing the maximum allowable without penalties based on our student status but I have no idea how much we'll be living on. We have other income, such as my disability payments that Metlife always seem to be ready to terminate at any moment. But I digress.

The important thing is that my worry stems more from losing the lifestyle I'm accustomed to. I will still have a roof over my head, a paid-off car that's only 3 years old and in very good repair. I still have a loving husband and 2 beautiful children that will have clean clothes and hot meals when we need them. In about 2 years when my husband finishes school, we will have the cushy income of an engineer. The man on the sidewalk had no such assurances. He didn't know where he would sleep or what or when his next meal will be. Seeing his great need helped me to settle in and be more at peace with the decision we have made. I wish I could have told him to be at peace with his situation, but all we could do is buy him a meal for which he was so very grateful. I pray I can remember to be equally grateful for my daily blessings from God. I am reminded of Proverbs 22:2 - Rich and poor men have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.