The Officer and a Gentle Woman

What makes traveling in airports so much fun is meeting people. I sat next to a woman on the plane who was an undercover cop. I enjoyed hearing her talk about her interesting work. She asked me, “Do I look like your average soccer mom?” “Why yes,” I answered! That, apparently, is the look the Police Department desires for her work. She told me about the time when she caught a perpetrator in an undercover assignment. She entered the room and within minutes she knew who the troublemaker was just by his actions. She shared some advice with me that I will never forget: Much of the time we cause our own problems because we draw attention to ourselves in negative ways. She handcuffed the young man quickly and he exclaimed: “I knew you were a cop. When you walked in, you kept looking around. I should have known and kept my mouth shut.”

I’ve been studying the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 18:6 it says: A fool’s lips enter into contention. And his mouth calls for blows.” My ongoing prayer is “Lord, put a guard over my mouth and use me to speak life to those around me.” I have not arrived in this; I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m on my way.

This is a hard word. It’s like forgiveness. Who wants to put aside their hurts and anger and forgive someone who has wronged you? Yet, God’s Word is true and sets us free. I’ve read similar messages about the mouth, the words we speak on many blogs lately. It is a confirmation of what the Lord is speaking to us.

Let’s tackle this assignment together. May the words we choose to speak bring life.