Gracious Speech

My family has always teased. Depending on which side of the teasing you landed, it was less or more fun. It would seem that one who has experienced the hurt from teasing words would be least likely to participate in the practice, but that is not always the case. Instead, quick defenses come to mind:

"Aww - it just means we love you if we tease you."

"You just need thicker skin - it's just teasing!"

"Can't you take a joke?"

But words can sting. Indeed, they can hurt deeply... and sometimes what is meant in jest can wound. Worse yet, words, once said, cannot be taken back.

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) says: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occassion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Could any of my teasing meet that requirement? It is doubtful. If I really put my teasing words to the test, they would be better described as building myself up, at the expense of someone else. Grace is probably not how the receiver of the teasing would describe my words.

Gratitude fills my heart for my two friends, both brave enough to confront me about my teasing words... I pray they will forgive me, and thank them for their honesty and willingness to confront my sin.

This putting off the old self and putting on the new is full-time work! My prayer for all of us is that we might let our "speech always be gracious" (Col. 4:6). Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, it will happen!