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TouchpointsNew Diet Planby: Dana Huffman I have a size 8 ˝ mouth. I know because I put my foot in it several times last week and it fit perfectly. Upset over saying some things I regretted, I decided to go on a verbal diet. I determined to speak only what was good and necessary. I would skim the fat from my conversations by refraining from complaining and criticizing. And I would stop all my opinion giving binges. How did I do? Not very well. But I happened to do just well enough to be surprised by the benefits of such a plan. The first thing I noticed on my verbal diet was that I experienced more peace. I never realized how much worry accompanied words of complaint and criticism, or how much angst went into my attempts to influence others with my opinions. Secondly, I noticed that my relationships seemed to improve on the spot. I became a better listener when I wasn't waiting to get in my two cents. I enjoyed people more and understood them better. Thirdly, I noticed that when I talked to people less I talked to God more. What I wanted to tell them I turned into prayers to Him. When I started this diet I worried that my relationships might go hungry on fewer words, but I noticed that instead they were better nourished and more deeply fed. "…be quick to listen, slow to speak…" James 1:19
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