THE DRIPPING FAUCET

A week or so ago I wrote on the 'tongue' seemingly directing most of my comments towards the men in a roundabout way but wanted to clarify that women are not perfect little angles either. We like to talk, talk, talk and some of us more than others. I am not sure of the author,but a male author, who I can not remember at this time, said women have something like 100,000 words a day and men only 25,000 and the man has used his up by 5 p.m. right when he gets home and his wife is ready to talk. Women can tend to be like a 'dripping faucet' if we are not careful and can be blamed for being nags. That is not a very edifying title to have. Much better to be called a princess or queen than a 'drip' huh?

There may be issues with verbal abuse and mostly on male side but women tend to gossip more and have a tendency to be naggers. No one likes to hear that. We call nagging 'reminders', but really step back and think if you would constantly like 'reminders' of everything. It would eventually drive you bonkers. The less said the better sometimes. Things bugging you, instead of 'nagging at the home, take them to the throne'. There is one incident that I recall right off hand where men are naggers and that is in Colossians 3:21 where it tells men "Fathers, do not nag your children. If you are too hard to please, they may want to stop trying." Some versions may use another word. But even men can get harping on an issue and not let it go.

Proverbs 27:15 says "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Ecclesiastes 3:7 says in referring to talking  and a time for things that there is "a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak." Once again we do not have to be talking all the time. Ladies like to talk and sometimes it is hard to not comment on everything. Better to be silent sometimes. Proverbs 21:9 says "It's better to live alone in the corner of an  attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home." See ladies it is important that we let our sweet spirit shine through to our exterior and not be a clanging cymbal or constant drip, drip, drip. Choose your words wisely and speak in a loving tone. Proverbs 19:13 says "A foolish child is a father’s ruin,  and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof." Just think of the sound of a dripping sink in the distance. It gets pretty annoying at times. For speaking, in general, for both sexes, the Bible says in Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Ladies let's attempt to be like the woman in Proverbs 31. Let us seek to be kind, gracious, submissive (I did not say 'less' or a doormat), and joyful. Let us try to be the person people want to be around. I encourage you to think of at least one good thing to say each and every day. If a bad thought comes try to bury it and not let it come out of your mouth. Yes, men are to treat us with honor and respect, but we too, are supposed to respect them and be kind to them. It takes two to tango so to speak.

PRAYER: Lord help me use gentle speech and favorable speech. I want to be kind and cheerful and be the kind of person people like being around. Help me not use my mouth for gossip, backbiting or worse yet, nagging. Help me recognize when I need to be silent. In Jesus Name. Amen.

For further reading: Proverbs 31:10-31 on the excellent wife or woman