Think Before You Speak

9.16.19—Think Before You Speak

I asked a dumb question today.

A student had gotten soap on her pants and was very concerned about how it looked.

Without really thinking yet somehow still thinking about 15 things at once, I said, “How’d you get soap on your pants?”

As soon as I’d muttered the question, I realized that it didn’t matter how she got soap on her pants. What mattered was that she was concerned about how it looked and was afraid that she was going to be picked on.

Instead of thinking about the details of the event that led to the problem, I should have said something like, “How can I help you?” and then worked with the student to solve the problem.

Instead of focusing on the details of the event that could have been embarrassing to the student, I should have said something like, “I’m sorry you got soap on your pants. Let’s see if we can figure out how to get that off or to cover it up.”

How many times do we encounter persons in need, feel compassion for them, want to help them, but then ask the most ridiculous, oftentimes hurtful, questions?

How many times do our heart and spirit have genuinely good intentions but then our mouths get in the way?

Thankfully, I quickly moved the conversation away from my dumb question, and the student and I figured out a way to detract from the soap spill.

But still…this encounter stuck with me and has served as a gentle reminder that I, myself, need to do something that I’ve been encouraging my students to do: Think before I speak.

Is what I’m going to say:
True
Helpful
Inspiring
Necessary
Kind

Think, Deanna. Think before you speak.

Think, friend. Think before you speak.

God, help us to think before we speak and to not let our good intentions be derailed by our mouths…and forgive us and help us get back on track when we do. Amen.