My husband, Mark, came home with a new business card which he helped design. It was clever, really, and fitting for his line of work. Mark sells motorcycles at a local Harley Davidson dealership and he is very happy to be spending his days loving the bikes and sharing his passion to ride with his customers. He handed me the new card which read, “Mark T. Welch, Peddler Of fine Motorcycles.” Well of course I noticed the typographical error right away and the critical words were out of my mouth faster than a rabbit with a fox hot on it’s trail. “Oh cool, but there’s a typo,” I stated glibly. I only wanted to be helpful. Really. But the squelching of enthusiasm was done. You might think, judging by the number of typos I miss in the publications I print at my own job that I am not so good at spotting them. But I seem to relish finding someone else’s mistake, as if it vindicates me to catch another’s error. The truth is it makes me feel less weak when I discover and point out someone else’s weakness. That is a painful confession. Recently I worked hard on a photo project at my day job, and a church member was kind enough to compliment my effort. It was so nice to hear the kind words! The next day I got a note from someone inquiring about the weird lighting that he disliked during a part of the worship service and I felt discouraged. It’s so easy to open our mouths and slop unkindness or discouragement with the thoughtless surface intent of “helping” someone. How can we get a grip on the habit of speaking kinder words? In 1 Peter 4:7-10, the Word instructs, “ ...stay wide awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything... Be generous with the different things God gave you: if words,let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit...” The Message. its as simple— and as challenging— as that. Oh how my pride gets in the way of God’s work! I want to practice being generous with the words God gave me, and I want God’s bright presence to be evident in my life, but I have much to learn. The next time I do something to annoy you, (I’m pretty sure there will be a next time) would you take it as a cue to pray for me? As you can see, I have lots to learn.