Mending Fences

Words....

So powerful, so beautiful, so ugly.

They can tear apart fences with a quick flash of the tongue.



Just a word and the fence topples down. 

I'm ashamed to say that I tore down a fence with my words yesterday.  I felt a flash of anger and heat in my cheeks, words tumbled out and stones fell. The words themselves weren't horrible but the edge in my voice, the frown on my face and the angry tone were enough to cause a rift.

Ten minutes later I sang songs with my mouth and the words were words of praise.  Praise after angrily snapping at a friend. 

Conviction came swift and hard.  Tears filled my eyes and spilled onto my cheeks.  Tears of remorse and shame.  Tears of guilt.  Guilt that the mouth I praise my God with is also the mouth that can curse men.  Yet, here I was singing of God's forgiveness and mercy and grace.
  

James 3:9-10 ~ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

I needed to mend a fence yesterday.  I asked for forgiveness and mercifully, it was given. 



But I don't want to keep failing in this way.  I want to be quick to listen.  Slow to speak.  Slow to become angry.

So I keep praying that God will grant me the ability to keep my lips tight together if I feel irritation or anger. But more importantly, that the irritation and anger won't rise up inside of me so quickly.

I don't want to tear down fences because mending them is so difficult.  The fence weakens over time if it is continually torn down.  Eventually it can't be mended.

So I keep praying for grace.  Grace for myself and grace to give others.  Because grace is the key here.  Grace is undeserved forgiveness.  And don't we all require that? 

I've been given so much grace that it could fill an ocean, so shouldn't I be able to bestow grace for petty little annoyances?  That is my prayer and that is my goal.

This week I'm thankful for blessings #936-953.

♥ Learning to say no.
♥ Deep, dreamless sleep

♥ Gorgeous blossoms.


♥ A husband who rearranged his schedule to help.

♥ People being stretched and sharing how they came to faith in Christ.


♥ Windows open and warm breeze blowing in.
♥ Clean floors

♥ Breakfast with women


♥ Exercise
♥ Sitting outdoors and enjoying longer days.

♥ Jars of fresh made sauerkraut


♥ Watching birds



♥ Friendship

♥ Older helping younger


♥ New babies


♥ Hands working together to beautify

♥ Wonderful fellowship


And finally...

♥ Mending a fence