You talk too much and you never shut up

If there’s one thing I’m learning in my old age, it’s that I talk too much.

I have inadvertently memorized many of the Proverbs about this:

In a multitude of words there wanteth not sin.

The fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it in ’til afterward.

A fool is known by a multitude of words.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

We covered James chapter three in church Sunday morning. The bulk of it is about the tongue and how impossible it is to tame it. It is likened to fire. On one hand, fire can be extremely helpful and useful, but uncontrolled it causes great destruction.

Ben Franklin was known for being highly critical of nearly everyone. He was not bashful about speaking his mind to anyone and everyone, behind their back or to their face. After tiring of it catching up with him, he made a resolution, “I will speak ill of no man.”

Later, he made a list of virtues that he would attempt to live by. One of them was, I will only speak when it is beneficial to myself or others.

I find that when I slow down and think before I speak, I do well.

Now, don’t try to hold me to this or I’ll give you a piece of my mind.

That was a joke. Talk to you later.