Hi Pastor John,
I wanted to share something that I feel like Jesus showed me this morning while working on for the class for the kids (and parents) where we will be talking about the power of our words and taming the tongue.
As we were pulling in the driveway last night after the meeting, our neighbors next door were pulling out of their driveway. One of the girls said, “I wonder where they are going at 9:00 at night?” The other answered, “Maybe they are going to get some dinner.” Then someone said, “It’s too late for dinner; maybe they are going to have ice cream.” The conversation went on with a few more “Maybe they’s”, and then it was over.
That conversation in the car seemed innocent at the time, and I didn’t think too much about it until this morning while working on the class. I feel like Jesus opened my eyes and showed me that it was something. I remembered the conversation in the car last night, and with it, the thought came loud and clear, “That’s the way rumors get started.”
I was able to see that with every “maybe they”, the girls inserted their own thoughts and opinions about something they saw without having any other information on the matter. Oh goodness! How many times have I done that? I’m sure it happens more than I even realize. Most of the time, those conversations amount to nothing and prove to be pointless. The discussion in the car last night amounted to nothing, but it could turn into something if it were to be repeated, starting a rumor as to why our neighbors go out late at night.
I can see more clearly how speaking without all the information, or even if I do have facts about something, if spoken at the wrong time or to the wrong person, it can cause me or others big problems. And I feel like seeing it in my kids has put a BIG WARNING sign out!! I wish I could have seen the conversation as I see it now, so that I could have cut it off. But I love that Jesus has let me see it now, and I can do something about it, going forward. What a wonderful opportunity and a loving Jesus for allowing me to see it!
The class we are doing “for the kids” on the power of our words and taming the tongue is a class for us grown-ups, too, maybe even more so 
Love,
Amy F