First of all, let me just say “YEEEHAWWWW”!!!!!!!

Instead of TWO TO FOUR WEEKS for the out-of-commission laptop, it was only ONE LITTLE WEEK!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Geek Squad for a speedy repair and for returning it with no lost data.  Double bonus, I say.

This is, of course, Friday and I like to participate in Caffeinated Randomness over with Andrea at Under Grace and Over Coffee.  Click here to read more fun CR!

And now for my own randomness…

I’ve always been a pretty decent conversationalist.  I could typically be counted on as a good “buffer” in a quiet group or one that might get people talking in an “icebreaker” activity while I was in the professional world.  I say this with no intention of tooting my own horn but rather to communicate this is my bend – the way God created me to be.

Quiet and docile are two words that have never been used to describe me.

However, I have recently been feeling like God has placed a gag order on me and is forcing me to simply just shut my chops already.  In addition, I feel that He is calling me to really watch my words and choose what I say very carefully.

I hear this message sometimes when I am talking too much.  Or when I’m saying something that doesn’t glorify Him.  Or if I am verbalizing something that really is just plain D-U-M (yes, I know there is no “B” at the end – that’s part of the joke…)

“Listen, Natalie.  Just stop and listen.  Let someone else talk for a change…You just might learn something,” have been the words I hear from Him when I am still enough to listen. (See the irony here?)

I’ve really been thinking a lot lately about our words and how people identify us through the things we say.  The good, the bad, and the ugly…

The other day, I was on Day Three of not having washed my hair, so I wore a cute, little hat I found at the Red Dot Boutique (a.k.a Target).  Since it was a sunny day, I was also sporting my sunglasses while driving my mom van home after picking up Susannah from preschool.

Secret Agent Mama

While I was stopped at a red light,  I noticed our Schwan’s delivery man, Kurt, was stopped right next to us with his window down.  I lowered my own and said, “Hey, Schwan’s guy…(waiting for him to look at me)  You better bring me three bags of broccoli tomorrow or I’m turning you into your superiors!!!”

He looked a little befuddled at first and I couldn’t figure out why.  Kurt and I have bonded over corn, peas, broccoli, and orange push-ups now for almost two years.  We are tight, Kurt and I.

But when he heard that bit about the broccoli, his face melted into a smile and told me that he gladly had three bags reserved just for us and would be delivering them the next day.  He then told me that he “couldn’t tell it was you in that little disguise you’re wearing until you added that little bit about the broccoli.”

See how our words identify who we are?

It was in that moment that I heard God say to me “See, my daughter?  Every little thing you say reveals to the world who you really are.”

He will literally turn anything into an opportunity for us to learn if we are simply open to hearing His lesson.

If we will just be still and know.

If we will just think about our words and if it isn’t going to glorify Him and if it is going to tear someone else down, perhaps deciding not to speak it would be the better alternative.

In closing, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes…

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

– Unknown

What is something God is teaching you these days?

Have a wonderful weekend, Beloved Friends!!!  See you on Monday!