Think before you speak? Really?

There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. (Proverbs 29:20)

As a young person, I would respond without thinking, often getting myself into things that I didn't need to be involved in, all because I was a little bit too 'quick on the draw'. I'd get into arguments, opening up the proverbial 'cans of worms' that I never knew existed. I'd volunteer myself for stuff I had absolutely no time to do but now was committed to by my quick reply. I'd injure the feelings of others because my words were sarcastic and cutting, all in the hopes someone would find my reply funny. It took a while to realize my words mattered; speaking them too quickly or without thinking really wasn't the best way to operate. Indeed, there was more hope for a fool than for someone (me) who spoke all those words without thinking!

As I have grown up a bit, I have come to realize my opinion doesn't always need to be spoken, nor do my thoughts always need to be interjected into the situation at hand. Sometimes it is just wiser to remain silent, allowing the silence to speak much more than my words ever would have. I have often said that speaking without thinking first is the root of many issues in this world. We find ourselves in all kinds of awkward circumstances because we speak too quickly, our words are a little too brash, or there is really no wisdom behind what we are sharing. The tongue is and always will be a hard thing to 'master'! 

Wisdom is found in the 'quality' of the words, not in the 'quantity' of them. If you find yourself needing to endlessly fill the void of 'quiet' in a relationship, you might want to ask yourself if all those words are 'necessary' and if they lend any 'value' to the relationship. If you do a quick internet search, you are likely to find all manner of 'help' for relationships, varying from online counseling to self-help studies. The 'quality' of our conversations with one another is both the nemesis and the ally of good relationships. If we want solid, growing and lasting relationships, we need to communicate well. Thought behind our words is the beginning of good relationships. It is also the very thing that will keep those relationships vital and growing. Just sayin!