I was 20 years old when I grabbed a rebound off the basketball hoop and turned to run up the court.  The worst player on the other team stepped forward onto my foot to block me while he waved his hands and poked me in both eyes – all in one instant.  

I felt my ankle break as I fell and remember screaming swear words at the guy before I even hit the ground.  About six weeks later the cast came off my leg but I always remembered how I swore. I didn’t like what I said or how I said it.

The Bible says our words reveal our true character and what we are really made of.  James challenges us: “With our tongue we give thanks to our Father in heaven and with our tongue we speak bad words against men who are made like God!” (James3:9-12)

Over the last 40 years I’ve smashed my thumbs with hammers, made lots of mistakes and have also been hurt by others.  Each event has given my mouth the opportunity to expose my innermost self, and I’m glad to say that with God’s amazing grace, I’m slowly getting better.

In 2018 I was loading a cement grinder onto a ramp that went into the back of my pickup truck.  The ramp gave way, and I fell forward and sliced my head wide open while the impact broke the C1 bone in my neck into thirds.   As soon as I hit the ground I rolled onto my back and held my head perfectly still while my wife, Julie, tried to stop the bleeding and called 911.  

I knew I was seriously hurt, but remember being at peace as we both praised God that I could still move my hands and toes.  

So today let’s ask ourselves a question.  When the next accident happens, or we get bad news, or someone blares their horn at you. . . Will you be at peace, or how will you choose to react?