In Others’ Words: Bite Your Tongue

I wanted to let someone have it last night.

And I know that person wanted to say a few … um … special words to me too.

But I didn’t.

I could feel the words banging on the back of my clenched teeth. I could almost see them forming in a cloud above my head.

But I knew once I said those oh-so-perfect-for-the-moment words, I wouldn’t be able to take them back.

Been there.

Said that.

And regretted it for years.

Yes, years.

This time, I kept my mouth shut. Swallowed my words. Let the moment pass. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned a few things … and one of them is that silence is often the wiser choice.

 

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;

so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14 NIV)

 

In Your Words: What do you do when the wrong words are on the tip of your tongue?