Trent Cornwell

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

“They should put your mouth in the circus” said my cousin as I would ramble on about near nothingness. I have always been known as the mouth of the south in my family. Some say it is the gift of gab and others would say it is more like a curse. They have both been right.

Through elementary school and middle school I had the great and embarrassing opportunity to meet with a speech therapist three times every week. I would never forget having to go over flash cards with the word “squirrel” on it as my friends would play wiffle ball in gym class.

I felt frightened when I would speak because I knew someone would could easily draw attention to my weird manner of speech. However, since I was (and still am) a very small young man I knew that I could not retaliate with a swinging fist I knew that I would have to learn to win the battle with my tongue. So I would mentally prepare cruel and sharp things to say when people would make fun of me. It would distract people from my inabilities and everyone would get a laugh. I realized it was such an effective defence that I took my show on the road and took the offense on many occasions.

I wish the nerve singles from “witty, harmful statement creating” part of my brain would die. I am certain that I have caused many people to feel the horrible feelings I felt as a ridiculed little boy. I have no excuse for this sin. I need God to reeducate my mouth to “set a watch.. before my mouth” I need Him to be the watchman on the “door to my lips”.

It was said of the disciples that people knew they had been with Jesus because of their love for one another. To often my speech would not have caused you to think that I had been anywhere near Jesus and that form of love. I will memorize this scripture and give orders to my mind to check with the Watchman and the Doorkeeper before anything is allowed to leave through the doors of my lips.

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