CONFESSIONS OF A POTTY MOUTH

CONFESSIONS OF A POTTY MOUTH

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29 NLT)

I’m a pastor, and I swear sometimes.

I try not to, but sometimes there are no other words that can quite express exactly the sentiment I want to convey.

For example, I might let a word or two slip when I am out running with my dog, Bruiser. Running is my quiet, stress burning, me time. It is where I go to be completely in control and alone… except when I forget that bringing Bruiser ruins all of that.

The first few stops for him to christen the bushes, trees, stop signs, etc. don’t get me too worked up. However, I give up all hope of using language that is “encouraging to those who hear them” when I am only a mile out and Bruiser decides he is done running. That freaking dog pulls backwards on his leash and refuses to run with me. This is when I lose my sanctified mind!

I know this makes me sound like a mildly crazy person, but that is because I am a mildly crazy person. The running is the thing that helps me stay sane, and that damn dog won’t let me have control.

I truly am sorry if the language is shocking or offensive to you. I promise you, I really do try not to swear, but I also try to keep it real. So, you might as well know that I am a crazy lady with a tiny bit of a potty mouth.

Thank God for grace and forgiveness. I need those things… A LOT!

Sometimes I stub my toe and momentarily forget about my salvation as the F bomb drops from my lips.

Sometimes I can only think of one response to ridiculous parent emails complaining about things that don’t even make sense – WTF?

I pour my time, energy, and emotion into your kid, and you are upset that of the 137 students (and their parents), I didn’t take the time to send you a special message despite the fact all the information is in three other places online?!?!?!?

Yeah, I swear sometimes.

Ah… that feels so good to confess to the whole world (you know, the maybe 100 to 200 people who will read this… whole world).

I don’t try to pretend to be perfect. I try to be perfect, but I fail at that. (If you have spent long enough around me in person, you already knew that.)I am a devoted follower of Christ. I’m just still working on the whole righteousness thing.

The good news is that it isn’t my righteousness that counts. I am counted righteous because of my faith in what God can do- not what I can do.

I truly am working on not swearing. I would love to get to the point that I never swear. I know this post isn’t a great example of my efforts to only speak things that are “good and helpful.” However, I think some people need to see the mess in order to understand the level of the grace that is available.

My imperfections and God’s grace make for a beautiful mix that only God knows what to do with.

I hope you will also have some grace for me as I work to avoid “foul and abusive language.”

Since I am trying to get to the point that my words “will be an encouragement to those who hear them,” could you please plug your ears if you see me out running with my dog?

Thanks!

*Photo was found at http://nos.twnsnd.co/post/151194502526/a-man-and-his-dog, which is said to provide free public domain photos. Here is some more information about the photo: Title: Artist and dog arrive by Melbourne Express (taken for J.C. Williamson) Photo can be found at http://archival-classic.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=21913 ….. Please don’t sue me. I don’t have any money, and I looked up free stock photos.