My Big Mouth

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." Proverbs 15:4

The students in my classroom where cracking up, but my gaze was fixed on the young man's face.  The laughing was contagious, it had begun as an instant burst, there was no hint of it being a courtesy laugh, the students were giving a unanimous belly laugh.  The comment that brought the hysterics was quick, witty, comical, and cutting.  The comment also came from the mouth of the teacher.... me.  I have to admit that at first I took joy in the response to my rapid fire humor.  It came forth with hardly a thought or filter and the laughter tickled my ego.  All was well until I caught the look on the face of the young man to whom the comment was directed.  He was trying to hold a smile, while shaking his head.  He knew he was the brunt of my humor and the brunt of his friend's laughter.  He was putting up a decent front, but his eyes gave up what had really happened, I had broken his spirit.  When I saw his eyes I felt a familiar ache in my stomach, and as swiftly as the sharp funny words flew, my heart sank.  The Lord's conviction hit me like a hammer and I was as broken as my student.  As I looked at him trying to hide the hurt, I swore in my heart I would never again bring that kind of brokenness so that I would seem clever.  I tried to divert the attention from the student by making some wise cracks and putting myself down.  But even after the laughter died down, there seemed to be a heaviness about his countenance.  I grabbed him when class was over to assure him I cared about him, and told him I was sorry for my harsh tongue.  He assured me it was no big deal.  I hope it really was no big deal to him, and that it wasn't something he carried with him.  I do know this, I have carried it with me, as a healthy reminder of the power of the tongue.  I haven't mastered my mouth yet, but this I know, it is much better to use it to bring life rather than brokenness.  May we all be guarded.