Thursday; February 20
One of my most intense challenges is knowing when NOT to talk. As I look back through my life, I can recall a few times when I should have spoken up, but didn’t; however, I can find a lot of times when I said something and would have been much better suited to having said nothing at all. More often than not, it was when I said something that got me in trouble. There is an old adage that observes, “It is better to not say anything and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”. While the source of this quote may be in doubt, its accuracy is generally accepted by all. When I struggle with this aspect of my life, I can take comfort in the fact that I am not alone in my folly. In fact, the Bible issues this warning to all of us, “ He who restrains his words as knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.” (Proverbs 17:27-28).