A Clean Mouth

I’m sitting at my desk this morning. Other than having too little sleep, I just don’t feel right. Then it dawns on me, “You didn’t brush your teeth after breakfast.” Dental hygiene is a priority.

Thursday mornings are tighter than most. Up at 5:15. Brushed my teeth then. Dental hygiene is a priority. Prayer meeting at 6:00am. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Home by 7:15. Getting kids ready for school. Grab a bite. Cup of coffee. Pack my lunch. Off by 7:50. Drop the kids at school. Office by 8:15.

So, I’m sitting here a little foggy headed around 9 going, “What else is wrong with me this morning?” Please, refrain from adding your comments. And then, as I said, I realized I needed to brush my teeth. Dental hygiene is a priority.

What’d I do? Brushed my teeth, of course. Yes, I’ve got a spare toothbrush & toothpaste at work. Top right desk drawer. Because, as you know, dental hygiene is a priority.

Sure enough, once my mouth was clean, my whole body felt better. A little better anyhow. Goes to show you that dental hygiene is a priority.

Maybe there is an axiom here: A clean mouth makes you feel better.

My dentist didn’t pay me to write this. But maybe I’ll forward it to him so he can be proud. And I didn’t write this to convince you that dental hygiene is... you know. I wrote as reminder to me, and to you.

A clean mouth—clean of selfish, prideful, angry, judgmental, gossiping, divisive, wicked, or any unwholesome words—makes you feel better. 

A clean mouth makes others feel better too.

Keep your mouth free from perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.—Proverbs 4:24 NIV

On the Lips

The Book of Proverbs is loaded with down-to-earth, common-sense, sage advice for every day living. You want to live better: read a chapter a day; live by what you read. Better life guaranteed.

If you are not a regular Bible reader—it makes all the difference in your perspective & processing of life—then you can start simple. Read one chapter of Proverbs a day. Chapter number corresponding to the day of the month.

Don’t worry if you get behind. Just keep it simple & read that day. 

Don’t worry about the months with less than 31 days. Just read extra or wait until the next month.

Don’t worry that I’m going to let you off the hook. Just read a chapter a day. It’s that easy. 

Let me share a little wisdom on interpersonal communication to whet your appetite.

Listen and keep. Do I listen to my parents? No matter my age. Proverbs 1:8—Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Hold it. When should I speak less? Rather be though a fool... you know the cliche. Proverbs 10:19—Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. 

Fruity lips. What fruit am I growing? Better than the striped gum. Proverbs 12:14—From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.

Wrath away. How gentle am I? Pot stirrers need not apply. Proverbs 15:1—A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

On the lips. Am I always honest? Pucker up. Proverbs 24:26—An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. 

Lying and honesty, speaking or holding back, listening and wisdom. They are all in there. These are just five of hundreds of proverbs on interpersonal communication alone. Then there are all the other topics of wisdom or foolishness and on and on. You gotta read it to find out.

Chapter a day.

Change your life.

Your Words

Your words can hurt others.

Your words can hurt you too.

I’ll never forget it.  I was a newly minted teenager.  Full of myself.  Angry at my little sister.  I’d done something hurtful to her in my anger.  She told Mom.  I got in trouble.  Then, in the self-serving righteous indignation that my sister was really wrong & I was really right, I got even angrier.  In my anger, I recall making a conscious choice.  A choice I’d never made before but knew I’d act on now to express the depth of the mistreatment I felt I was suffering.  I cursed.  To my mother.

I don’t remember much that happened after that.  Mom’s eyes on fire.  Her hands like lightning.  Jerked up her jerk son.  Yanked my mouth opened.  And filled it with a pump squirt of LOC.  Soap.

Amway’s LOC (Liquid Organic Cleaner) was kept under our kitchen sink since it had many household uses.  “Multi-Purpose Cleaner” the label says.  “Washing out teen boy potty mouth,” was just one of the many uses my Mom had now discovered.

I learned a lesson that day.  Not the apparent, “Don’t be dumb enough to curse in front of your God-fearing Mama.”  I had calculated the use of that curse word to hurt others, but that word ended up hurting me.  That was the real lesson.

Your words can hurt others.

Your words can hurt you too.

There is enough hurt in the world, don’t you agree?  Why don’t we make a decision - actually many, daily decisions - to use our words to help instead of hurt?  Blessing instead of cursing?  Praying instead of complaining?

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what help, each word is a gift. Ephesians 4:29 (MSG)

Say It

I am older than I might like to admit.  Past the big-four-oh. Some days the "oh" is louder than others. 

I am a "grown man."  By most definitions.  Unless I am acting like a kid.  A Daddy has to at times.

I am a Christ follower, husband, father, & pastor.  I am blessed beyond my imagination.

Yet when a dear brother I respect wrote to me, "I am proud of you!," my heart leapt.

Words are powerful, Friends.

Words can injure.  Or cure.

Words can hinder.  Or encourage.

If you have a blessing to offer, then write it.

Share it.

Say it.