Have you ever been slapped for reporting the truth to your parents? I know my question sounds weird but something happened to me when I was 12 years old. My dad who was nicknamed “Mr Gentleman” because of his gentleness in dealing with people, took me by surprise when he lost his gentleness for the first time and slapped me on my cheek for telling the truth. In order to understand why he did that to me, allow me to share with you what happened in the following paragraphs.
There was an altercation going on at the playground near our home. When I heard the loud noise of people whistling and cheering, I ran to the play field to see what was going on. Arriving at the scene, I found out that there was a big fight that ensued between two football players because one of them accused the other of deliberately missing the ball and kick him on the thigh with the purpose to disturb him from scoring the equalizer goal. Around 1980s movies were just surfacing in Malawi and in order for one to watch, you were to travel for long distances to a place where you had to pay. As a result, many of us in the village did not have that privilege to watch those movies. The only time we watched was when we traveled to the city. Therefore, anytime a fight ensued, there were some elderly youths who supported and threatened everybody present not to separate them because it was the only opportunity to watch a “free live action movie.” I understand that was not right but we really enjoyed those fights.
On that day I rushed to the playground to see what was happening, I had the chance to watch the whole fight that left one player with a swollen face. Arriving home, my dad called me and said, “Victor! Where were you?” “To the playground.” I quickly answered. My dad then asked me of what was happening at the playground. Instead of just saying there was a fight, I started explaining to him everything that happened. While explaining , I told him what those boys fighting were saying. In my explanation I mentioned two words that were spoken and immediately my father’s countenance changed and slapped me on my cheek and looked directly at me and told me in the face, “Never let those words come out of thy mouth.” I tried to explain to him that those words were not mine but I was just being truthful in reporting what transpired. He told me that he never heard those words from those boys fighting but from me, therefore, my punishment was to discipline me to never use cursing words in any report that I will ever give.
It was difficult for me to understand why giving an honest report could be wrong until I came across Psalms 141:3 which says, “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3. My father was teaching me to guard my mouth from speaking foul language and cursing like it is a tradition in many people’s conversations these days. After I read this Psalm from David, I realized the powerful thought that my father was trying to instill in me when he slapped me for using those two bad words that were in my reported speech. Consequently, I made a resolution never to allow my lips utter bad words directly or indirectly because words spoken carelessly have power to ruin the soul and finally cost my good relationship with God.
The truth of the matter is that God does not want us to use foul language or cursing words in our discussions or conversations. No wonder today I do not like to watch most of the popular movies and comedy that are full of bad words and it appears if they don’t use bad words, many people do not love them. If God is asking me to guide my mouth from speaking bad things, He cannot allow my ears to listen to somebody who does not know how to guard his/her lips. As a child of God, you have a choice to make of what you want to speak, hear somebody speak and watch words being acted out. May God help you to make better decisions that can dignify your body instead of desecrating our bodies before our Maker.
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