Slow to Speak Revisited

In 2011 I started this blog as an attempt to sort my thoughts and to train my brain to process things before sharing them with the world. Years later I have a new appreciation for the "Slow to Speak" concept. There is no greater motivator to fine tuning your words and your actions than the sweet institution of marriage. I suppose that will change once littles are running around echoing the words they hear but for now my personal filtering and editing has greatly benefited my dear sweet husband.

When Andrew and I started dating we were I was curious to learn about what our love languages were. If you haven't heard the term before, it is used in reference to the ways that each person gives and receives love. It comes from Gary Chapman and his book The 5 Love Languages. (There are lots of quizzes online that can help you determine yours.) It became apparent that the primary way that Andrew received love and affection from me was through my words. This also identified the quickest route to his emotional destruction. James 3 says that although our tongue is a small part of our body it can do considerable damage.

Take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

I already had an understanding of the power of my words but now I had the greatest motivation in the world to really get things under control. This idea or goal of being a woman who was able to control her tongue and use her words to bless her husband (and others) was something I desired to be but I'll be honest - it was a struggle to the highest degree. And it still is.

And that is why I have decided to start this blog back up again. I know I'm not the only one out there who desperately wants to live a life that honours God, serves others and cherishes the ones she loves most. I also know I'm not the only one who can get caught up in an insta-binge, scrolling through countless photos of bright white kitchens, new born babes in flower crowns and aptly placed combinations of devotional notebooks, lattes and foliage. If you've ever taken one of those photos before, you'll have to admit that the first picture you took probably wasn't the one you posted. You take your time, see what goes together best, stand on a chair for the perfect angle, rearrange things to get better lighting, etc.

Editing is what it takes to create something better.

I want to be better. I want to be the best that I can - to honour the Lord and to serve others. I need some editing. I need to slow down, I need my attitude to be rearranged, I need to move closer to the Light. I need to be edited. Some would argue that editing or filtering who we are would take away from or hide our true self, our raw nature. But that is exactly the point. We are sinful, imperfect, impure. Without the covering (read: filter) of Christ, our true self, our raw nature is so ugly it's the last thing you would want to share with others. The Bible encourages us to regularly take into account our behaviours and to be transformed, starting by changing the way we think. God seeks to transform us, to edit us, to take us from what we are and to change us into something beautiful.

My hope is to create a community and a conversation - whether you are single, engaged, married, with kids or without kids, working in the world or at home - that is focused on editing out our sinful human nature, filtering our thoughts, words and actions for the edification of others. I want to invite you along for the journey, not because I have my life all figured out (nope!) but because we are designed for relationship and community. And like I said, I know I'm not the only one.

I intend to share based on a few aspects - spiritual development, personal reflection, creative projects and favourite recipes, just to name a few. In the spirit of building community and fostering connection, if you have a topic suggestion or saw something somewhere that other readers might appreciate, submit it in the Community Contribution section in the column on the right side of the page. (Please note these may be featured on occasion and are filtered for consideration.) I look forward to sharing with you in the days ahead!

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James 1:19