The Ultimate Test

Once when my mother was young, she began to say uncomplimentary things about someone while visiting with an older Christian woman. The lady stopped her saying, “If you can’t say something good about that person, don’t say anything.”

Mother never forgot those words and made them a motto for her life. She carefully guarded her words until it became her habit never to criticize another. I grew up hearing remarks such as “He probably didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”  She didn’t just say those words; she believed them. She always overlooked a potential personal offense.

As a result, others always had kind words to say about her. Jesus words proved true: “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged” (Matthew 7:1-2 NLT).

Jesus, help me to remember that the control of my tongue is a real test of my relationship with You.