It amazes me how children will throw their parents “under the bus,” so to speak. They do it, not trying to hurt them, but because they are just honest and that is what they have seen or heard. If parents knew everything their kids were saying about them, they would most likely be embarrassed and even ashamed.

My grandmother would say: “Little pitchers have big ears” when someone was talking about something that we had no business hearing. I didn’t know what she was talking about at that time, but now I do. When adults are saying things that children should not hear, they are filling them up and those kids will then pour out what they have been filled with. They will repeat gossip, tell of arguments that end up in fights, and every once in awhile rip off a curse word. All is quite innocent on the children’s part but most adults wish their kids didn’t say anything.

As an adult I have been told a tale, then admonished not to say anything about it. Have you ever experienced a conversation when someone starts with: “Don’t say anything about it, but……..?” If something is that sensitive, it probably doesn’t need to be said. Did you know that saying things that shouldn’t be said is an issue of our heart?

Matthew 12:34-35 in part says: “…….For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

There are usually consequences when we say things we should not say.

James 3:8; But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Relationships are damaged and even severed because of something that someone has said. When there is something on your mind that you are about to say concerning someone else, just take a moment before you say it and consider how it could affect them. What we say can encourage and help someone or it can destroy them. Many times it is better if we just, “don’t say anything.”

These are the types of everyday issues we look into at the Gathering Place every Wednesday evening at 7 and Sunday morning at 9:30 and 10:30. We have youth group and recovery classes at 6 on Sunday evenings. Come and join in.