Dirty words
5/28/2009 12:04:42 PM
Have you noticed that what used to be considered “vulgar” has been “normalized” in our speech? My mom continues to be a stickler for “dirty words.” What she considers vulgar and unacceptable in terms of speech includes a far longer list of words, concepts and references than make my list. But I can still remember the day she actually washed my mouth out with soap.
The discussion went something like this: “Carmen Suzette,” the address used to indicate that I was in serious trouble and should pay close attention, “we don’t use dirty words,” my mother announced with a furrowed brow.
Knowing full well that I had a used a word on the “unapproved list,” I proceeded to ask, “How do you know the word is dirty?”
Ever the educator, my mother began the instruction, “A dirty word is a word that makes fun of someone or something that God tells us that He loves. Or, a word that is hateful or mean and is used to make someone feel bad.”
“Do you understand?” she inquired of me.
“Yes Mam,” I replied – but apparently without sufficient conviction.
My mother continued, “Once you know how God feels about something, by reading the Bible and by praying, then you know on the inside whether or not what you’re saying is clean. God is clean in the sense that He is perfect. We are not perfect and when we make mistakes, God forgives us. One way the Bible describes it is that Jesus washes away sin – or the dirtiness inside of us – and makes us clean.
“I remember one time when Jesus told some people that it didn’t matter so much what they ate, but what they said. Because what goes into your mouth does not say as much about who you are as what comes out of your mouth. If you use dirty words then you are showing yourself to be dirty.”
I apparently chose to continue to reveal a filthy mouth. Because, as I distinctly recall, my mouth required a thorough washing out with soap when we got home. Trust me, lesson learned. That little exercise need only be done once for even the most rascally child to become disciplined in the taming of the tongue.
Casting Crowns sings a song entitled “Slow Fade,” the lyrics read:
“Slow Fade”
Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you’re thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Let us all be conscious today of what we say – and what it reveals about the state of our soul.
Consider Psalm 51:1-7 as you ask the Father to cleanse you today, in Christ our Lord. Amen.