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 texting image of the dots or ellipsis. 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