February 22

I was using the water hose in my yard and dropped the end in the pool so I wouldn't waste water on the deck. Our pool runs low on water occasionally so it really wasn't a big deal. I began doing something else and got sidetracked. It wasn't until the next day that I realized what I had done, I left the water running. Not only did it overflow the pool, but because we have a high iron content in our water, the pool became a rusty mess. It took me a week to get it clean. Sometimes a careless mistake can cause us so much trouble. This same thing can happen when we run our mouth and don't control our tongue. If we just open our mouth and let filth flow out we will ruin our good reputation as a Christian. The difference between cleaning up the mess in the pool and cleaning up the mess from an unbridled tongue is that it may take longer than a week to restore your good name. Don't be careless with your words. 

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? James 3:10-11