You Sweet-Talker (or The Dog Ate the Soap)

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.