“Ooops I did it again!” quoting Britney Spears, I stuck my foot in my mouth and said something I will likely regret for some time.  As soon as I uttered the words I KNEW I had messed up.  Unfortunately once said the words could not be taken back.  It’s not like they dropped on the floor and I could just pick them up like the “5 second rule” when you drop some food on the floor and can pop it back in your mouth with no ramifications.  Nope, the words hang in the air and then vaporize like steam into the pores of the person in front of me.  From there, they become pin-pricks of infection and spread throughout the body but linger at heart’s door.  I ask for forgiveness but I know damage has been done not only to her but to me as well.

How can I undo the hurt?

I was diagnosed with “Foot in Mouth Disease” at a very early age.  The symptoms are obvious:

•    * Not thinking before speaking
•    * Speaking just to hear the sound of my own voice
•    * Inability to take back words once said
•    * Red cheeks flushed with embarrassment
•    * Subsequent inability to look people in the eye
•    * Guilt

The disease unfortunately never goes away.  I live with it daily but thankfully there are some natural remedies that help prevent a particularly nasty episode of “Foot in Mouth”.

•   Admitting I have the disease allows me to always be on guard for flare-ups!
•   Before opening my mouth I check for signs of various “foot fungi” ie: pride, selfishness, jealousy, anger, pettiness,  impetuousness, etc.
•   I make sure I connect with the Great Physician for regular “heart” check-ups.  There is a known link between “heart” disease and “Foot in Mouth” disease.

So, I kneel before the Father again and ask forgiveness and ask for His healing yet again, not only for me but for the one who was hurt by my words.  Squelch the tongue’s spark, Lord!

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”  (James 1:19; James 3:5-6)