Saturday, September 20, 2008

Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters can be tremendous amounts of fun. My six-year-old son, Austin, and I have discovered that this week as we have used tongue twisters as part of our homeschool. It is quite humorous to listen to a young child attempt to say the jumbled up words without getting off track. We have laughed at each other many times during this course of study! I have found that moms can’t spill out those tangly tongue twisters much easier than the child can! Twisted words are not easy to say!

Taming the tongue is not an easy task either, but a necessary one none-the-less. The Bible speaks on many occasions about the words that exit our mouths. We are warned repeatedly to take heed when it comes to conversation. Have you ever spouted out something and then stood in disbelief at what you just heard coming from your own mouth? I certainly have. It is not a good feeling to regret the words you have spoken. Self-talk is no different. Sometimes my words hurt me as much as anyone else. We are to speak good things about ourselves to ourselves, even if we don’t feel like it. That is one way we can tame our tongues.

I have quite a sense of humor. Often times, what starts in my mind as a funny thought, makes it’s way through my mouth and ends up not sounding so uplifting upon being born into the world and landing upon the ears of someone else. Not everyone shares my sense of humor thus; I have had foot-in-mouth disease more than one time. Thinking about the outcome before we speak is another way to tame the tongue. How will my words actually come across sounding to the other person?

The bible tells us in Luke 6:45- “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks.” (NIV) Now I’m not insinuating that just because one may make a conversation blunder that one is evil. In that case, I would certainly be in big trouble! But, what we think is a large part of what eventually flows from our mouths.

Colossians 3:2 tells us to “Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)
What are we thinking about? In Romans 12:2, we are told “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

Is it going to uplift another person if we speak it? If it won’t, then it is probably not God’s will that we say it. If no good thing can come from it, just keep it to yourself. Even better, do not even think about it. Ephesians 4:29 is one of my all-time favorite verses. It says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV) Wow! Do my words benefit my family? Am I uplifting my friends when I talk to them, or am I dragging them down spiritually? Those are tough questions. I can honestly say I try hard to be a lifter-upper instead of a bringer-downer, but when things get tough for me, do I complain too much?

Maybe we all need to pray this prayer:
“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3 NIV)

Is what I have to say honoring God? “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so; let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NIV)

In essence, it all boils down to this: We are to be focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, not the things of this world. By doing that, we can be assured that the words coming from us will be uplifting, loving, and beneficial to everyone who hears our voice.

Everyday, I say this Psalm aloud when I wake up:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 NIV)

Understand, I do mess up almost every day, but at least I am asking God to help me along the way. I believe He hears my petitions and forgives me when I miss the mark. He will do the same for you.

Just for fun, I thought I would share some of the hilarious tongue twisters Austin and I have penned over the last few days.

Baxter bought big beautiful brass bottles at the beach by the bay with his best buddy, Babar.


Tom tossed Teresa’s tooth to the trash Tuesday.

Gwen gave her guitar from the garage to Gilly Gasrrison.

Ancient armies attacked angry apes.

And, last but not least, here is a tongue twister that my oldest son, Chase (now 18) and I made up when he was a little boy:

The lion roared in World War One.

I bet ya can’t say that one ten times fast!

****Today in your comment, leave your favorite tongue twister; better yet, make one up! It’s lots of fun! I will reward the one who makes Austin laugh the loudest with a copy of one of my favorite books: “I Hate Whining Except When I’m Doing It” by Sheila Rabe.

I’m looking forward to reading them!
Have a blessed day in The Lord!
Love,
Starr

11 comments:

koinonia community said...

Weird, but Alea and I were making up tongue twisters Friday! Here is one - Ask Annie Graham if green grannie smith apples taste great. Or something like that.

We have been working on speaking to build each other up daily also. The girls get to bickering and it really effects everyone in the house by the end of the day. I have told the girls that talking impatiently to each other and criticizing is a bad habit that we need to replace with a good habit, so we are working on creating a habit of love. Any ideas?

Van said...

What a fun lesson toungue twisters and the tongue - very creative! I tried a couple. I need to return to school! Have a great day!

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

It is so challenging to tame the tongue! I don't really know many tongue twisters. My favorite one would be, Six slimy snakes slid slowly southward.

Kathy Schwanke said...

My dad always said "the rabbit ran around the track" with the kids @ the supper table. It was cute.

I do know that regret after having said something. I hate that.

Great post!

Dana said...

Oh, My Siesta...
I am still snickering...You & Normal are not EVEN in the same game..LOL!!!
Here are some of my fav TTs:
She sells seashells down by the seashore....
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers....
***The Best One***
How much wood could a Woodchuck chuck if a Woodchuck could chuck wood? As much wood as a Woodchuck could, if a Woodchuck could chuck wood!!

Try that one Austin...Laugh my baby...Laugh!!

Sharon said...

OOOOH this is too funny, well here are a few for you!!

1.Six slimy snails sailed silently.

2.Seven slick slimey snakes slowly sliding southward.

3.Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore. But if Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore then where are the sea shells Sally sells?

4.Rugged rubber baby buggy bumpers.

5.Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear,
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair,
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy,
was he?

That was even fun remembering and trying to even say them...
Thanks for the fun this morning, have a great and blessed day

Kay Martin said...

Oh, yes, my toes know my tonsils quite well because I have had the foot in the mouth too many times. In the last few years Holy Spirit has helped me to pause a few moments and my mouth doesn't run ahead of my heart and mind so much any more.

Words can make or break a person on certain days. People don't ususally show how vulnerable and fragile they really are. I try to keep that in mind and choose my words carefully.

Good reminders.

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Ok, so this may not be an actual tongue twister, but I grew up hearing my great uncle say this one to me...

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy wuzzy had no hair
Fuzzy wuzzy wasn't fuzzy was he?

Miss you girl!

Love, Joanne
p.s. email me when you get the chance, I want to hear what has happened with your getting published.

Anonymous said...

So true. I guess it must run in the family....the foot in mouth thing...anyways, It happens to us all! Thanks for the reminder! As for a tongue twister...here's one I made up...
The Realtor wrote the wrong offer which wasn't written right! How's that???LOL!
love you!

Anonymous said...

Starr, I so don't have tongue twister for you, but I wanted to say thanks for stopping by. Love your site and today's post!
Ginger

Anonymous said...

The big black bug bit the big black bear and the big black bear bled blood.

Seems to me I remember saying that one at Grandmother/Grandpa Hicks' house with you and Melanie. Do you remember it?

Sorry so late to respond. I have not been getting the updates when you have a new post. I'll just check your site more regularly.

Happy belaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaated birthday by the way.

Love ya,

Tricia