Here kitty kitties! Time to eat!” At the sound of my voice, five furry kittens scurried out from underneath the old trailer that sits on the fence line that separates the horses from the sheep. As I talked to the kittens, it dawned on me that talking is something that I do a lot of. I mean a lot. Like too much sometimes. Oh well, let’s add one more thing to my list of self-improvement suggestions- (Note to self: don’t talk so much). Next stop: Chicken pen. “Here chick chicks!! How are you girls today? Time to eat! “I guess I’ll start working on that not talking so much tomorrow,” I said as I laughed and threw out scraps to the chickens.
After finishing my rounds, I pulled up to the house and as always, glanced out to count my rams. I stopped in my tracks when I realized that BB (short for Blind Baby or Baby Boy-depending on the day), was not with the others. This is odd as he usually “follows the bell” of the lead ram so that he doesn’t get lost. I scanned the pasture. No BB. I started to panic as I ran through the gate imagining that he was hung in the fence somewhere. “BB! BB! Come on boy! Where are you?”
There is an old tobacco bulk barn that sits on the fence line where the sheep often take shelter from the sweltering heat. “He must be in there”, I prayed. I made it to barn, but as I peered into the cool darkness, no BB. My heart sank. There is only one other place that he could be….behind the barn, against the fence. “But why would be there?” I thought. Sure enough, he was there! Safe!
BB’s tail began to wag as I spoke to him and scratched his face. Out of breath and pouring sweat I said “BB! Why are you over here behind the barn!? ” I was startled as suddenly 5 furry kittens appeared on the other site of the fence. As I looked at the kittens who were curiously staring at me, I understood exactly how BB ended up here. “You heard me calling the kittens and you came to me instead of following the others didn’t you Baby Boy?”
Holy Spirit moment: Our words matter. ALL of them.
What we say and how we say it, matters. We never know who is listening and how our words may affect them. I was convicted as I realized that my words (or the “passionate” way that I deliver them), can cause others to alter their course, not only for the good, but unfortunately, sometimes for the bad.
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
So as we start a new week, I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to remember that we never know who is listening when we speak. I pray that my words will be healing, not harmful to others.