Today’s reading: Proverbs 29:11

I’m a talker. So it makes sense that I’m drawn to proverbs that address words and speech. Our words are powerful. So this week, we’re going to take a short break from Genesis and the story of Abraham and Sarah and look at a variety of verses in Proverbs that have to with what we say and how we say it. Today I selected Proverbs 29:11.

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

What a good reminder that when we find ourselves leaning toward an argument, in the middle of an emotional circumstance or dealing with a person who is difficult or sensitive, our best course of action is to keep our words in check.

I’ve been on both sides of the fence–I’ve vented fully and I’ve chosen to stay quiet and hold my tongue. Without a doubt, quietly holding back has proven itself to be the better response.

So what’s your experience been with “quietly holding back”? If someone asked you to explain this verse, what would you tell them? What helps you keep your words in check when you feel like venting fully? Tami

Source: Tami’s Blog