Joel M Bradshaw

28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.–Proverbs 15

I played a season on my college’s improv team. I was encouraged by friends who were current team players to try out, and I had just enough Chris Farley-esque physical comedy skills to make an impression. Improv is about quick wit and fast responses. Our proverb today, not so much.

Most of us have seen the image I attached on here. It means that the person you are texting with is typing a response. If you are anything like me, you must be a frustrating texter. For I type something, then think about it, then erase it, then type something different, then think about it, then erase it. Those three dots must be there a lot.

The righteous ponders a response. The wicked pours out evil. The Christian life is not to be an improv show where quickness is valued most. This is something I have to continue to learn. Ponder an answer.

Will my answer glorify God? Will it bring unity? Will it exacerbate a problem unnecessarily? Is it true? Will the receiver be edified? Will they be challenged or encouraged? Is this more about me and my issues? Am I just trying to appear a certain way? Is this text better a phone call? Is this phone call better a sit down?

There are so many things to ponder. The righteous isn’t rash. Especially with speech. This proverb was written for me, for I always need to work on this. How about you?–JMB