It Only Takes One Rotten Onion!

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as it good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Hey Gang:  As most of you know, I am a ‘black pot’ chef and get a lot of misplaced accolades for our famous ribs. Misplaced, because all I do is keep the fires under control so as not to burn the goodies that are cooking in the pots;  the bride-of-my-youth, my pearl-of- great price, is really the author and creator of the fabulous taste that comes out of the finished product. 

A few years back, we had a family camping reunion and my instructions to each of the family members was to be bring something to put in the stew which was to be served at the Sunday noon meal.  I also instructed them to be prepared to share how their gift represented their life and how it would impact on the taste of the stew. 

I t was a neat time of sharing.  After each had made their contribution to the stew, I opened a bag and took out a gross, rotten onion and asked the question, “What would happen to the stew if I would put the onion in the pot?”  The answer was unanimous, it would spoil the stew.  We have all heard the adage,  ‘One bad apple can spoil the whole bushel’. 

Each and every day God gives us opportunities to make a contribution to His stew pot.  Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, wrote, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as it good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Eph.4:29) 

Solomon, considered the wisest man in the Bible, shares great God-inspired wisdom in the book of Proverbs.  In Proverbs 10:31  Solomon declared,  "A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom, a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp."  What is his point?   What comes out of your mouth is a clear indication of what kind of person you are internally.  What is in you will surface when you least expect it.  . 

Soooo, my young gals and buckaroos,  what will you put into Gods stew pot this day?  I read these wonderful words from the Amish Proverbs Book this morning, "Actions speak louder than words" and "Kind actions begin with kind thoughts".  These adages seem to be based on good old common sense and seem so ordinary, but we fail to guard our witness.   Think of the impact of a good deed or a kind word.  "Good deeds have echoes."   

Does that not remind you of Solomon's words in Proverbs 11:17, "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel". 

Blessings,

Gramps