Too many words not enough listening..

Lately I have done some reading on the power of words. I have gone through several articles, other blogs, and scripture.
I have been reminded of life lessons I have had to learn the hard way and reminded of illustrations.
Like : If you were to take a tube of tooth paste and squeeze it and have way to much come out , would you be able to put it back to the way it was?
No ,once the paste is out it is impossible to restore to its original form. So is the case with unkind inappropriate words, slander, profanity,etc.
Once it's been said, once it's out there there is no returning the victim to their original form.
What if its a nickname, a friendly banter of jokes? What if you believe the words you have chosen to speak are for the persons own good?
I'm sure there are cases where someones nickname has great comfort and joy. Or jokes among long time friends and family are acceptable.
I'm also sure that I have felt justified in the words I spoke on someones behalf, but with that said I am also that much more sure that I was wrong and I was hurtful and needed to seek much forgiveness.
So whats a person to do when the words we speak or think can be painful ,taken the wrong way or just left out there to be dissected?
The world shows us that we can justify our choice of words based on, what the situation was when we spoke the words, or spin it to show it was taken out of context or provoked by the other person.
How sad.
I struggle with what words to speak daily, and with the world working against me I fear even more for my kids and what must go through there minds on whats right and whats wrong.
Everyone can find justification for the things they say; bad day, headache, just got yelled at by some else, whatever we want I'm sure we could use it to get out of the truth and the truth is that we have to be responsible for the things we say.
The good the bad and the ugly.
We have a place to go for examples of how we can attain words worthy to be heard.
Where the WORD is true and just and powerful enough to change this spirit of mine.
I hope today I am given the chance to listen more and speak less.
The chance to encourage and lift up the people in my life.

Eph:4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

First days and jitters.

I watched my children run to the gate to find there names and see their teacher's name.
One returned with satisfaction the other returned not knowing what the papers said.
She needed my help to read and find her name.
With the last name of Wesselhoff it was easy, go to the end of the lists and there you are.
I knew that my oldest child was a theater major but little did I know that she had been
secretly training her little sister.
Because without warning she broke out into the most dramatic and sorrowful rant about her teacher and friends or lack there of.
And just when I thought we would need some serious intervention it was over.
The first day of school came and went and well, it came and went without so much as hiccup of what was thought to be the worst thing that has ever happen to her.
So now we are back to the day in and day out of schedules ,routines and homework assignments.
The long days of who is and who isn't friends or dating anymore.
Where are the favorite shoes, shirts, socks, or possibly underwear.
The whys , the how comes and that is so not fair.
Bedtimes, wake up times, and definitely shower time...
The ever popular " no I don't have any homework" " oh really ?" argument.
Packing lunches, remembering to brush their teeth's, hair and whatever else they might need to do before they leave.
Finding a place to do the homework that they don't have: even though they all have their own desks.
Not to mention, the proverbial, laundry, cleaning, Dr. apt., dentist apt. planning dinner, pick ups, drop offs, go to that practice, to that friends house, bible study and what nots of the day in the life of moms and kids alike across the world.
So when you find yourself looking for the one shoe, the perfect hair bow, even the backpack , take a deep breath and no that your not alone.
Somewhere out there someone else is also looking.