Weekly Inspiration - James 1: 19-20

Weekly Inspiration – August 5^th

James 1: 19-20

¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Do you remember when your mom used to say “now honey, your face will freeze like that one day?”  Maybe some of you even use that one on your children now.

I remember it was my personal mission to make every face I could think of that was silly and prove to my mom that your face would in fact not freeze like that one day.  Lucky for me I was right, there were a few faces I would be sad to be carrying around today. 

My mom would be happy to know that the old adage came back to me at a very opportune moment of growth for me.  I was having a “discussion” with my husband and I found myself making a not so flattering face at him.  After eventually apologizing I realized that not too long ago, on some of our first dates, I could never have imagined myself making a face like that at this man that I loved; yet here I was able to conjure that face up within seconds of being opposed, and without much guilt for doing so.  I may have even felt that he deserved that very face at the moment.   

Then, I thought about what my mom said and I realized she was right.  The moment I allowed myself to make a nasty face at my husband, it became a new tool neatly tucked away just in case it were needed again.  At the time I was probably devastated that I was able to do such a thing, but as time wore on it became easier and easier to bear.  I am sure there have been times where my husband feels that my face did freeze that way.   So after we got home, I went and looked in the mirror, and I made the face at myself.  Try that one if you already haven’t.  It was pretty disappointing, but I am glad I did it.  I now know what face is also frozen in my husband’s mind when we have a “discussion,” and I am sure he is just waiting for it to paint itself back across my face. 

So My dear sisters, take note of this… Let us be quicker to listen than to speak, quicker to have compassion and love than malice.  Let us be quicker to sing praise than to spout angry words.  And most of all, let our faces be those of loving kindness and tenderness; for God desires so much more for our womanly heart.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for your wisdom and inspiration in the Bible.  I can’t imagine if I were left to my own devices in this world for guidance.  Thank you for reminding me, during my selfish moments of anger, that my actions are not just my own, but will leave a mark on all who witness them.  Please also remind me that when I am tempted to make nasty faces and become quickly angered that my face will freeze that way, even if it is only in my husband’s memory.  I pray for the Women of Existence that we may continue to grow closer to you Lord and closer to becoming the women you designed us specifically to be.  To hold our tongues, to steer away from gossip and to hold our faces in a smile so that they will freeze that way!  In your name, Amen.