The boy asked his dad, “Dad, how do wars get started?”
The dad replied, “Well, Son, suppose a US leader made a comment that made a Great Britain leader mad…”
About that time, the mom walked through the room and said, “What happened?”
The dad replied, “I’m telling him how wars get started. Nothing happened. Good grief.”
The mom retorted, “Well, that’s dumb. The US and Great Britain are allies.”
“I’m just giving the boy an illustration.”
“Well it’s a stupid illustration. Why not give him something realistic?”
“It’s not stupid,” the dad replied angrily, “what’s stupid is you feeling like you have to….”
About that time, the boy interrupted them and said, “Never mind, Dad. I see how wars get started.”
Too many husbands and wives have no filters for what comes out of their mouths. We hurt, tear down, embarrass, judge, criticize, and put down the person we promised we would love, honor, and cherish.
We suggest (and use) the E429 filter. We call it that because is practices what the Holy Spirit commanded in Ephesians 4:29.
We must say “… only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Helpful?
Builds up?
Beneficial?
Run your words through the E429 filter before you run them out of your mouth.