In my life, I am constantly reminded of the choice that I have in the words that I use. A close friend jokingly says that I am "passive-aggressive." I am not sure exactly what he means by that but, bottom line, I know that he is right. I believe that one end result of my passive-aggressiveness is that the words that I say about others (usually not to them all-too-often about them) can sometimes come out pretty harsh. He knows that oftentimes I am talking in jest but, still, he drives a very good point home to me.

I believe that we all face those moments when we have a choice in how we are going to react. Think about the person who cuts us off in traffic. Will we yell, shake our fist (or worse) and carry on or will we choose to give them grace -- the grace that God has given to us and the same grace that we hope is given to us when we make a mistake? (I do need to point out that I have never been one to get upset in traffic situations. Fact is, I am not the world's best driver and I badly need the grace of that other driver when I mess up so I am not about to deny them that same grace!)

Or, how about when someone butts in front of you in line? We had this happen recently and it was at a Christian function. Imagine that! :-) Waiting to go through the buffet line at lunch, my wife and I were in charge of watching and helping three youngsters who were just ahead of us in line when someone came and took their opportunity to separate us from the kids. One of the kids (our own) came back in line to be with us and we just watched over the other two as best we could, from a couple of people back. This tested my patience and I maybe had a few unkind thoughts go through my head but I fortunately prevented them from engaging my oratory functionality.

It all comes down to this -- who are my words -- all my words -- going to glorify? I am talking about my words both to and about others. Will they glorify my own self-centeredness, my own pride and my own ego, or will they glorify God, the one to whom I owe everything? I hope and pray each day that, just for that day, my words will be proof of God living through me, rather than proof of the ugly pettiness of my frail humanity.