One of my all-time favorite quotes comes from four year old, Billy, who is definitely wise beyond his years.
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
Don’t you love it?
“Safe in their mouth.”
Don’t you want your name to be safe in someone’s mouth?
Think about it, when your name is safe….
- No secrets are betrayed.
- No rumors are spread.
- No lies are told.
- No cruelty is spoken.
- No anger is screamed.
- No ___________
You’re safe.
I want everyone I love to know their name is safe with me. But then I read….
Love your neighbor. Mark 12:31
Love your enemies. Matthew 5:43
And….
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
It’s hard to control my words to keep everyone’s name safe. I get annoyed. I get tired and cranky. I get impatient and irritable. Well you get the idea.
God’s love is always patient and kind. He not only forgives us, but He keeps no record of our wrongs. He never gives up on us. Ever.
Our names are safe with Him.
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
God loves us with that perfect safe love we crave so much.
And He gives us all we need to love both lovely and difficult people with 1 Corinthians 13 love, too.
Be blessed by the His love and strengthened by His grace.
Celebrate His love.
I love this! You are right, wisdom beyond his year. 🙂
Thanks Michele-Lyn. Trying to remember little Billy’s words before I start to say something. What a difference it would make.
I love this! I had never stopped to think of it this way…are names safe in my mouth? And as you mentioned, not just the names of those I love. Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this! What a great way to redirect a heart and mouth that may at times be too quick to carelessly toss out unkind words connected with names.
This is so beautiful! Just love this…and I want to live in a way that I model this amazing statement! Lord, make every name I speak to be safe in my mouth! Blessed by this Deb! I am sharing!
These words were convicting to my heart. Yes, Lord! Please help me see others as you do so that even my enemy’s name is safe in mouth. Thank you for writing graciously about this.
Thank you so very much for these precious words spoken from the mouth of a babe. How so very true! Even though I would have never thought of it the same way it really made me think and I thank you for that. I now have another way to explain things to my grandchildren and keep in my mind too. Our Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways and I was searching for else but was led here. Thank you! And may God Bless all!