When I was very little I travelled all over the world. My father was a well known speaker that ministered in churches everywhere. My mother had the task of teaching my brother and I social skills.

“Just because you think it doesn’t mean you say it!”

I heard this multiple times because I often said whatever I thought!

We learned to shake hands and look people in the eye when speaking to them. Learned to use manners.

One evening walking into a rather large church a little old woman, very very old woman walked towards me. She had tiny glasses and a big cane. As I approached her my mom gave me the nod to greet her and say hello.

So my little 4 year old self said “Hi sneaky eyes!” She did look sneaky and old.

Very old.

Next thing I knew I was getting disciplined. I was crying after that thinking I greeted her….?

My mother who was my resident Holy Spirit told me “we don’t say that!”

Later I got the lecture ” just because you think it doesn’t mean you say it.”

I don’t know about you but God still nudges me, sometimes a big nudge and reminds me not to say things.

The words don’t serve a purpose. They aren’t

Honoring

Respectful

Kind

Rather they are hurtful and unkind.

Here is the scripture my mom made me memorize-

Psalm 141:3 New International Version (NIV)