Monthly Archives: February 2023

Tame the Tongue!

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I feel nudged to ask a serious question… When we don’t agree with or are ‘offended’ by something someone did or something someone said, does that give us the right to be cruel? To use our words to break down a person? I’m hopeful all of you would agree this is not okay!

Why is it then that ‘word’ meanness appears to be ‘okay’ and acceptable on social media? I will never ever understand this or any kind of meanness or cruelty!

No surprise that there is a chapter in the bible dedicated to this word meanness. James 3 is titled Taming the Tongue! Something ALL of us could use help with! Parts of this chapter read something like this:

A small bit can move a large horse.

A small rudder can move an enormous ship.

A small spark can set a whole forest on fire.

Our tongue is small but it is mighty. It can corrupt our whole person!

In the picture above, Toby Mac says it perfectly, “Be careful with your words! The tongue has no bones but is strong enough to break a heart.”

Why are we breaking hearts with our words? Especially on social media? WHY? In my humble opinion, people, there is no place for this. Agree with the bible…

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” James 3:9-10

So, may I ask a favor? Before sharing our strong opinions about something on social media, let’s give it some serious thought, and let’s please pause before we post! Because we all need help taming our tongue! We’ve all made mistakes in life. God certainly knows I have! So, please…let’s stop condemning others with our words when these human beings may or may not have made decisions we don’t like. Let kindness prevail!

Thanks in advance for considering this challenge. 🙏

Stay calm & Speak Life!
Profs Dr. Wendy & Dr. V. 

A Grandma’s Lesson on Perspective

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Dear Educator…just yesterday I learned an entirely different perspective from my 7-year-old grandson about the 100th Day of School activity of dressing up like an ‘old’ person. Please know I mean no disrespect to any of you reading this who have already done this or are planning to do this activity. Seeing Instagram or Facebook posts with you all dressed up as a centurion has given me a few giggles. So, I ask you, please read with an open mind because this lesson on perspective comes from a first grader.  🙌💙

Yesterday would have been my grandson’s 100th Day of School celebration. My daughter even bought a few items to help with making him look like a 100-year-old man. On Sunday evening, Tyus told his mom he didn’t want to dress up. She said that was okay.

Monday morning before heading to school, my grandson told his mom one more time that he did not want to dress up. She said that was fine, but she would put the items she bought for him in his backpack just in case he changed his mind when he got to school. He assured her, “I don’t want to bring it with because I don’t want to dress up. I’m sorry, Mom, that you wasted your money.”

My daughter told him he didn’t need to apologize and that she will make sure to ask him next time if he wants to participate in the class activity.  

Monday evening, he shared with his mom why he didn’t want to dress up like an old person. Below is the text message I received from my daughter last night…

My grandson shared with his mom, “Mom, dressing up like old people is sad. It made me think of Great Grandpa Eddie and he died when he was old.”

Tyus has an old soul and doesn’t like teasing or causing heartache or making fun of others with jokes. He has a kind heart, and I love that about him.

And that, teachers, is why my 7-year-old grandson chose not to dress up. Isn’t this an interesting perspective on dressing up for the 100th Day Celebration? I did read an article asking for this to stop. Some comments at the end of the article bashed the authors because ‘they’ve never been in the classroom,’ or to ‘lighten up, they are just kids.’

I get it. I’m a teacher and I’m positive I would have joined all of you in this activity. Goodness, I just helped my niece find items for her daughter to dress up on February 13 for her daughter’s 100th Day of School celebration. It’s just now I have been handed a different pair of glasses and will forever see this activity differently. I told my teacher candidates today to remember not all students will want to participate in all activities and that is okay. Respect that.

This kind of makes me want to ask the elderly what they think. I’m confident most elderly won’t care one bit. They will think it is hilarious. However, maybe, just maybe others won’t find the humor in it because they do not want to be reminded of their unwanted aging. Hard to say. The only way to find out is to ask.

Tyus…thank you for teaching Grandma an important lesson, and for reminding me to listen to and respect different perspectives. Big hugs, buddy!

Stay calm & Honor the Aging!
Profs Dr. Wendy & Dr. V.