“Watch your Corrine mouth!” (not real name) my husband said to me one Sunday after he overheard my cell phone conversation with a restaurant hostess. The problem began when the lady answered the phone and said, “Would you hold a minute, please.”
Did she say a minute? About ten minutes later I heard, “Yes, how may I help you?”
Aggravated about having to wait so long, I came out with a nasty-nice, “Well, I was going to ask for call-ahead seating, but we’re almost pulling in the parking lot, now . . . I’ll probably be there before you can write our names, but my name is . . .” My words stung!
When I hung up the phone I felt like a “just-got-out-of church” hypocrite, but then my husband made me feel even worse when he charged me with a “Corrine mouth.” I knew what he meant: Years ago there was a teenager in our congregation who had a smart-aleck mouth—regardless of what was said or who said it, she always shot back with a cutting answer. So, through the years, when one of our family members would say something out of line—whether they meant it in a teasing or serious way, we would caution, “Watch your Corrine mouth.” But believe me, my husband was far from joking about my “Corrine mouth.”
However, it was my conscience and not my husband’s reprimand that made me walk straight in the door and apologize. The pretty, young hostess smiled and acted like it wasn’t a big deal (guess she had heard worse), but to God, a smart mouth is more than a big deal; it’s a sin. Maybe the following will help me—and you—with our mouths.
Don’t Use Sarcasm
Yes, you have a right to voice your disapproval in unpleasant situations. No, you shouldn’t do it in an unpleasant way. Sarcasm screams that you are angry even though you may be just a little peeved. As a Christian, your words should be thoughtful and gentle. You may not take my word for it, but take God’s Word, “Let your speech always be with grace . . .” (Colossians 4:6).
Don’t Double-Dip
You’ve heard the saying, “a little goes a long way.” That is true with criticism and complaints. Don’t overload the person at one sitting; it is too devastating. Address one particular problem rather than taking the opportunity to review all the person’s problems When you keep dipping into the bowl of complaints, instead of you being the victim, you become the culprit—the one who does the mistreating.
Don’t Apologize Before You Speak
You are off to a bad start when you introduce your complaints with, “Now, don’t be offended . . .” or “There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time, but I was afraid it would hurt you . . .” Instead of giving your listener a vaccination to prevent pain, you are stabbing him/her with a hypodermic needle. Ouch! Often the prefacing remarks hurt worse than the complaints. Know what you need to say and say it—with kind and thoughtful words.
Be Smart and Don’t Have a “Smart” Mouth
“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life . . .” (Proverbs 13:3 KJV).
Knee-Mail Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive me for having a Corrine mouth. Amen.
- Sharon Thomas
superb man :P
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