I was driving along the other day on a little circuit I like to do which takes me along the waterfront traveling past the various waterways of our coastal wonderland.
I find it rejuvenating to see the ever changing seascapes of the area. This particular day the king tide was at its full height & the water was completely stilled in one particular bay.
The water was so still that it mirrored the sky & surrounding shores beautifully.
This was rather curious as these waters are tidal, being fed by the sea with strong currents & eddies constantly ebbing & flowing. There was a breeze upon the air but not across the surface of the waters, so barely a ripple could be seen.
This gave me much food for thought & is the topic for our reflection today dear friend.
Please grab yourself a cuppa & tasty treat, get comfy & join me. I have been desiring a cup of coffee lately, I know, strange for me being a tea lover! So today I have a Café Latte made on almond milk with some healthy nuts to snack upon.
I continued on my drive, coming to the next inlet. The waters in this inlet, though from the same source, were not stilled but rather choppy.
Not a thing could be reflected nor mirrored upon these unsettled waters.
My thoughts jumped to something I recently heard…the speaker had asked us a rhetorical question…would we like to hear a recording of our words & language that we had spoken that week…
This was rather thought provoking! His message was on the Tongue, in how it can both bless & curse…Let me modernize this…
How our words can either uplift or demoralize by what we choose to speak.
Not all the words we speak are encouraging or helpful are they? At times they can be tinged with judgements, jealousies & negativity often said in haste or without thought…crushing another’s spirit.
I thought about the stilled waters & their ability to reflect beauty…mirroring the beauty of the heavens & surrounding nature in breathtaking detail…
Where as the choppy waters reflected not a thing in fact they looked dark & menacing. Though the heavens above them were delightful in twilight beauty the waters could not reflect this beauty in its darkened unsettled state.
Thus, I had to ask myself the following questions;
Am I stilled in spirit to reflect God’s nature or am I unsettled & broody ~ immersed in anxious thoughts of the circumstances around me?
Which one is mirrored by the words & tones I use? Hmmm….
Because when things become choppy in our lives, even dark & menacing we often become unsettled & broody…Don’t we…snapping out words…
Rather then quieting ourselves before the Creator of the universe & in that stillness come to really know His love, peace, strength & joy that He has in great measure to impart to us…enabling us to use kinder gentler words…
The following text took on a new poignancy,
“Be still & know that I am God!”
Psalm 46:10
In His peacefulness we can reflect & mirror His natural beauty especially through our words…choosing to speak life into another’s spirit rather then serving them a crushing blow in what & how we speak to them!
Let me pose the following question my friend;
Would you like to hear a recording of all the words & tones you have spoken this past week?
It’s a very sobering question isn’t it…
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or in Prayer
© 2019 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photos on Pexels.com
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This is a most sobering question, Jennifer. I am glad to have read this at the start of my week and plan to keep this in mind. Blessings!
It is isn’t it Joanne! It has kept me extra mindful ever since! Lovely having you join me here 😀
Beautiful post! Keep up the great work. This is so inspiring.
Thank you for your encouraging words! So lovely to have you drop by! 😀
What a wonderful observation, Jennifer: choppy waters can’t reflect like still waters can. I need to remember that and take opportunities to rest and be still more often.
Thank you Lisa! 😀
I LOVED this post, Jennifer. It’s amazing, but you and I both must have been thinking about the same topic at the same time. I have a post scheduled for tomorrow where I ruminate about the same things as you! This is the Scripture I used to illustrate my point: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”. Ephesians 4:29
God has a theme going Laurie! 😀
Jennifer, that is a very sobering question that you posed. I don’t think I would want to hear every word that I have spoken this week. Beautiful photos and analogy sweet friend!
Thank you Pam. Yes it was sobering wasn’t it… I felt the same when it was posed to me too…
Though it has made me very aware of my words & conversations this week. Which is a good thing! 😀
My biggest challenge is holding my tongue about the state of my country’s politics. Nothing is gained by my negativity.
It’s walking a tight rope isn’t it Elizabeth with political commentary…in speaking out observed truths while keeping a gage on the way it is delivered.
And remembering to love our enemies.
Absolutely! 😀
This is indeed a sobering question Jennifer….. Thank you for the reminder that we should be reflecting our Creator’s beauty in the way we carry ourselves, the way we speak, and the way we act toward others. Blessings to you sweet friend!
Yes Terri, it’s challenging & sobering when we think over our conversations isn’t it…But I’m so glad we have the opportunity to be still & know His peace 😀
Hi Jennifer! I’ve learned much about life and transitions and sudden change and peace living by the sea. I love that God teaches us needed lessons through His creation …
I do too Linda! I love living near the sea & the beauty that abounds in Creation too :-D.
Glad you dropped by 😀
It sure is a sobering question! I love your photo’s, they really help connect the reality of the need for stillness to reflect! A good lesson for me! Great post!!
Thank you Cheryl! Lovely having you drop by 😀
Thank you Jennifer. I love your photographs, especially the first. October has been a challenging month for me, but I took each day a bit at a time and I am thankful to arrive in November and remaining peaceful.
I’m saddened to hear you have been having a challenging time Brigid…
In times like that we can only take one day at a time, so you have been wise…sending you blessings for November my friend.