Thursday, September 30, 2010

Mums the Word


Can you imagine fall without mums?  I mean, seriously, it isn't fall until I "plant" mums in my pots, which I did this past weekend by the way.  All I need now are some pumpkins on my front porch and my fall season is complete.  Gotta put "buy pumpkins" on my shopping list.  I just love looking out my front windows and seeing the mums and pumpkins on my front porch. 

We all know that "mum" is, of course, short for chrysanthemum, the real name of those beautiful fall flowers I have on my front and back porches.  But have you ever wondered where the phrase "mums the word" came from?  Well, here at Down On The Farm I strive to be educational (not really) and I can tell you that William Shakespeare used the phrase "Seal up your lips and give no words but mum." in Henry VI, Part 2, 1592

There are times as Christians, that we need to keep "mum."  Did your mother ever tell you "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?"  Well, that's keeping mum, and my mom told me that about a million times growing up.  And while the phrase "if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all" isn't literally in the Bible, there are plenty of scriptures that ought to convince us that God takes very seriously the words that come out of our mouths.

James 3:9-10 "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."


Proverbs 21:23 "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles."

Matthew 12:36-37 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."



Are we following these scriptures?  Really step back and think about what comes out of your mouth.  Is it acceptable to God?  Does it bless others?  Does it encourage others?  Or do we talk about others and tear them down? 

John 13:35 says this:  "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

If we are talking badly about someone, we don't love them.  Let me say that again, if we are talking badly about someone, we don't love them.  If we don't love, then how can we be His disciples?

I have truly been convicted of this in my spirit lately.  I believe that in God's eyes sin is sin, and gossip is sin.  Most Christians like to think of sin as "big" and "little" because it makes us feel better, but I think God sees all sin as something that separates us from Him, and I want to be as close to Him as I can get.  So today, think before you speak.  Be a blessing to someone with a smile, or an encouraging word.  Tell your spouse and children how much you love them.  Of all people we should be nice to, we really should be nice to our family.  Find one nice thing to say to a co-worker, or a neighbor.  And if you truly can't say something nice, then, as my mother taught me, don't say anything at all. 

12 comments:

  1. I love your "mums" all of them.
    My favorite fall flower are pansies. I found some beautiful ones at Lowe's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen!!! It's a shame sometimes were nicer to a stranger than to our own family.
    We were always taught if you can't say something nice about someone than don't say anything at all. I can't remember ever hearing my parents put down other people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the Mums too.

    I am working with my daughter to only say nice things or say nothing at all and not to gossip.

    Have a wonderful day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh how well your words of God and Jesus speak the truth. Being human we slip and we sin and we sometimes do that over and over. Let us ask forgiveness and try harder! Let us bite our tongue! Thank you for your gentle reminder of what is expected of us.
    And so, I hope you have a wonderful day....your blessing of your words has been my blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, love this post!!! Thanks for a great read my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun post. Oh yes ~ my favorite saying to me is~ "Shut up and pray." When we keep "mums the word" ~ we never have to eat our words.
    I so enjoyed your devotion tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are right! Mums the Word for October! And I found mums and pansies at Lowe's today, probably missed Patti by just minutes! They were MissouREE mums Robin :) I can't believe you are only an hour from Hermann! Enjoy your MissouREE Fall and Mums!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your mums are beautiful! I always can't wait to get the pumpkins and mums out for fall. I love how you tied this in with a spiritual application, too.

    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Mums. I got mine "planted" in my pots this past weekend. I've been saying the..."if you can't say anything nice..." phrase to my 9 year old a LOT lately...sigh...

    Thanks for the additional scriptures...they are going into my journal right now.

    Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Excellent blog you've got here.. It's hard to find quality writing
    like yours these days. I seriously appreciate individuals like you!
    Take care!!

    Here is my blog more information

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's in point of fact a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

    Also visit my web-site - simply click Priceofgoldper.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. You have made some really good points there.
    I checked on the net for more info about the issue and found
    most individuals will go along with your views on this website.



    Feel free to surf to my blog post; Recommended Site

    ReplyDelete