I have a crazy sister, actually I have two crazy sisters. The fact that they are identical twins who teach at the same high school makes life even more interesting. One of them is obsessed with the possibility that she might stand before her students with something in her teeth. So when I used to work where they teach, she would stop by every day after lunch, grin big into my office window and say, “Do I have something in my teeth?” There was never anything there. In fact she has perfect teeth which have never had to be straightened or whitened. I am so jealous. So to help her obsession, I would often reply, “Yep. There’s pepper right….. there.” She would dig around with her tongue hoping to remedy the situation. “Nope… still there.” Poor thing. Nothing like sisterly love.
One day a parent stopped by my window to expound upon some matter of great urgency. She was one of those ladies who always had a better way of doing things. Her pookie-bear daughter was often slighted. Her needs were great and I dreaded seeing her come down the hall to express her anxiety. The fact that she was perfectly done up [make-up, hair, clothes] and clicked her fake nails on my window ledge did not endear her to me. I have to say that it gave me great pleasure to see that she had a big ol’ hunk of broccoli wedged in her otherwise perfect smile. I let her expound to me the importance of the situation, trying not to think of a sarcastic comeback like, “If you’d get out of my space I could accomplish a great deal more each day and maybe our school would meet your expectations.” Nothing like that was going through my head at all…
So anyway, when she finished, I said, “If you had broccoli in your teeth, would you want someone to tell you?” Her mouth immediately closed as she headed for the nearest mirror. My friend and co-worker, Tammy came out of the back office and said, “That was perfect.”
It’s hard to know how to respond to people sometimes. Two similar circumstances needed very different approaches. I am not wise by any means. Therefore, I pray continually that God will give me correct responses. The trend in many Christian circles is to be snarky and let the saints fall where they may. Not wise. Even stupid people need love. Feel free to write that in your Bible beside Luke 23:34.
I heard a wise young pastor say something years ago that has stuck with me. In fact it is one of my many mottos. “If you do not speak the truth in love, it will not be taken as the truth.” Wow! Thanks Chris O’Guin. I bet you had no idea that a simple phrase could affect a life for so long. But it is very true and I have to remind myself of it constantly, being the “quick-witted” person that I am. Plus I live with a man who says his spiritual gift is sarcasm. He really is very funny. But he honestly works on building others up instead of getting a laugh at someone’s expense. Very few people know how to be humorous without being hurtful or crude. He is one of the best at that.
So anyway, today, make it a point to speak the truth in love. Ask the Lord to set a watch over your mouth. And do us all a favor, by checking a mirror for the junk in your teeth… like my sweet sister Janice. Bless her heart.
Reference Ephesians 4:15 Psalm 141:3
Now that’s funny…I don’t care who you are. I am sure that lady is
GONE….GONE….GOOONNNNE!!
Gone like a freight train….somethin…somethin…somethin….gone like a civil war soldier…BANG BANG!!! love you TODD!
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Perfect answer again! Thanks Tammy. I needed that laugh this morning! Some things never change. = )
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I think your stories are so funny and the way you apply it to Scripture is so humbling. I can’t wait to read the next story you have.
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So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading JP!
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