In "Other" Words...Bitter or Sweet?

“If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word,

 then I know nothing of Calvary’s love, 

for a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, 

however suddenly jolted.”
Amy Carmichael

This is the quote chosen by Miriam Pauline for today's In "Other" Words.  When I first saw it a few weeks ago on the IOW hostess site, my immediate thought was "Ouch!"   In the intervening weeks, I've been very convicted on this very subject in totally unrelated ways.   So on Friday when I saw that this was this week's quote, I once again thought, OUCH!"

I've been cranky the last few weeks.  It's been easy to "explain" that...sick children, vehicle and house issues, increased pain level, not being able to be at church, sleep deprivation, and various other external stressors.   I'm catching myself often "reacting" in the moment, rather than stopping and turning those "moments" into teachable ones...when a child makes a mess, or the whole crew comes in arguing, or I am sending the *same* child back to bed for the 4th time that night.  It's easy to rationalize that with "It's been a rough week" or "I'm exhausted".  But not only did Amy Carmichael say it doesn't work that way....so does Jesus, in Luke 6:45...

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, 

and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.

For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Luke 6:45

The good news is that it doesn't have to stay that way.  I can choose to change.  But...not on my own.  I can't change the *inside* by myself...and what's in my heart has to change before what comes out of my mouth changes.  Those impatient, unkind words aren't just going to go away on their own, but they are "a reminder to call on God to change your [my] heart."  (The 100 Most Important Bible Verses for Mothers

 , by the W Publishing Group).  

Thanks to Miriam Pauline at Miriam Pauline's Monologue for this week's very convicting quote.  Visit her to see what others are sharing about it today here.