DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MOTOR MOUTHS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – MOTOR MOUTHS

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah' – because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid." (Mark 9:2-6)

Peter. Dear Peter. It seems that he was always putting his foot in his mouth. Often he spoke on the spur of the moment without thinking through what he was saying. We used to call people like, "Motor-mouths," because they think they need to say something, even if is inappropriate. They put their mouth in gear before they turn on their brain!

But I can't talk much about Peter. I have the same problem. When the conversation dies and no one says anything, I hate the deafening silence and feel I should say something, even if it doesn't make sense. Many times, I end up feeling foolish because what I say is vacuous and rambling.

Sometimes when we don't know what to say, it is better to say nothing. It is better to let the conversation die than fill the vacuum with idle words. It's like the old saying goes, "It's better to look like a fool than to speak and prove you are."

I truly want my words to be meaningful. If they aren't, as the Psalmist says, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3). "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

Love, Dad