Taming the Tongue

"The tongue also is a fire, a WORLD of evil among the parts of the body. It CORRUPT S the whole person, can set the whole course of his life on fire, and it itself set on fire by Hell." James 3:6NIV

Well I have read the posts of others discussing how their mouths got them in trouble. I knew in my heart that my mouth was getting me in trouble also but, was way too ashamed to admit it. I have a knack of saying the wrong things especially to the little people in my house. Unfortunately my oldest child seems to catch the brunt of it. And yesterday she caught it all. She came home saying that she did not have ANY homework. I reminded her of a huge project due April 25th that we WOULD work on since her homework load was so light. Well as it turned out, not only did she not have any homework she had 3 big tests to study for. She told me she did not mention them before now because she has GOT IT. But when quizzed she so did NOT have IT! It took until almost 5:00 to get her ready for these tests, and then (being the mean heifer I am), I made her work on her big project anyway. We discussed that when she received her study guides she should write down in her assignment day planner what day the test would be. This way she could be studying ahead of time instead of cramming the night before. Then she started in on this story of how the teachers did not remind her until yesterday that these tests were even coming up. Again we discussed how she should be responsible for keeping up with these dates Herself, and she just did not get it. I cannot get through to her that she has to take charge and be organized in her approach to school. She has never really had to study before so I realize that this is all new to her. But how to get through to her that that it will not get any easier as she gets older only harder. Well that seemed to but me in a mood where everything she did for the rest of the evening irritated me. She could do no right. From talking while we were finally sitting down to relax and watch TV to the way she brushed her teeth. When they all went to bed and I quieted my self long enough to hear it. The Holy Spirit prompted me to open up my bible and guess what I read. YEP you guessed it the verse above. WOW!!! I almost went and woke her up at midnight to apologize and cry on her but, I refrained. this morning while praying for her I told her how sorry I was and how I learned that I needed to tame my tongue more. She stared at me blankly??? Had the Fire already burned her so deeply that she just cannot believe my words? Has this fire burned her before to the point she is scarred??? or afraid??? I hope not but, I hope this also reminds someone else how very powerful our tongues are and that we will all re-think what we say today. I know I WILL!!!