Don't Take It Personally/Taming the Tongue

Don't take it personally.

That phrase rubs me the wrong way. Nine times out of ten when a person says that to another person, the conversation IS personal.

"Don't take it personally, but...

...your breath smells like onions."
...you look extra wide in that skirt."
...your kid's head is shaped like a deflated football."

I mean seriously...how can you NOT take those things personally?? I have pretty thick skin. I kind of have to to grow up in my family! We razz each other. Mess around. Sometimes it goes too far and that's when we have to slow our roll and say "Whoa. Wait a minute. That wasn't meant to sting."

But ya know what? Sometimes it DOES sting. Sometimes the things that leave our mouths affect others in a negative way. Sometimes we have to suck it up and say, "I'm sorry. I screwed up. Please forgive me." The typical American (oftentimes worldly) responses of "Eh, you'll get over it" or "Don't take it personally" just don't cut it, when things go too far!

Source

Proverbs 21:23 (ESV)
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Taming the tongue is very often an issue in my family. We're all loud, outspoken individuals who often speak first, then think. We are really into talking and not as good at listening. I've worked REALLY hard over the years to become a better listener and to think before I speak, but more often than I'd care to admit, I find myself having to humble myself and apologize for letting my tongue flap loosely without thinking. I've had to apologize for things that I didn't mean to do. I've had to seek forgiveness from people who I've hurt by my carelessness. I've had to right some wrongs in situations that I didn't even understand completely. I had to do all of those things because I let my tongue (or sometimes my fingers in the case of typing) run ramped without much thought.

If I have ever wronged you with my words, especially unintentionally, please know that I am sincerely sorry. I never meant to cause trouble or offend. I never meant to hurt your feelings. I never meant to be so un-Christ-like. I hope you can forgive me.

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!