The dog ate the soap the other day. Actually, that's not entirely true. I should say the dog has eaten the soap on several occasions. But the other day, she ate the whole thing--gone but for the miniscule sliver I managed to dig from her jaws. One morning, just for kicks, she hopped into the tub and devoured nearly the entire barely-used bar. What would possess a dog to eat soap, you ask? Well, considering some of the other things I've observed my dogs eating, it could be worse; but I digress. If you've ever been on the receiving end of a mouth-washing, you know that stuff is putrid. But for some reason, my dog thinks a little lunch of Lever 2000 really hits the spot.
In the book of Ezekiel, he ate something unusual too--a scroll covered with God's word. Did he like it? Was it some awful punishment? Yes, he liked it. No, it was not a punishment. Ezekiel says it tasted like honey. (Maybe my dogs think soap tastes like honey--or chicken.) I can learn a lesson from Old Zeke--and can pass it on to my kids. God's words--good words-- are sweet.
When I want to cheer my kids up after a fight with their friend, I can give them a taste of God's word. When I mess up and say or do something that I shouldn't have said or done, I can offer the offended party a bite of God's word. When I want to celebrate or encourage a friend or family member, I slip them a smackeral of something sweet (to quote Pooh) from the pages of God's word. And even when my kids need correction, I can leave the soap-eating to the dog and, instead, apply a coating of God's word. God's word is an all-purpose product!
Learn to be a Sweet-Talker with God's word and your kids will learn it too--then maybe you can leave the soap to the dog.
"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight..." Jeremiah 15:16
Join me Friday for Getting Into Character when we will explore The Thinker.
Nikki, when we'd had our greyhound for several months he ate a bar of soap. The results were not so sweet. He threw up foam and the rest of it slipped out the other end. Thankfully we were on our evening walk at the time. Nice piece of advice you have, quoting God's word in all circumstances. Blessings!
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