"Little Pitchers Have Big Ears"

By John and Kelly Chesnut

Post date: Nov. 2, 2020

When our kids were little, they learned that in our family we don’t say two “s” words: “stupid” and “shut up.” Saying those words was the equivalent of cussing, and it wouldn’t be tolerated.

We were diligent in teaching them to live out Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (NIV).

We memorized this verse in the NIV because we wanted our kids to understand it wasn’t just profanity that was considered “foul;” it was anything that didn’t encourage or build up someone else. We wanted them to know that our words didn’t just have an impact on the person or people we were talking to, but also impacted anyone who might overhear us.

Fast forward many years later and now our kids are adults, some with kids of their own. We have to confess that watching them navigate this phase of life has been a great source of amusement. The dog barks every time there’s motion at the door — and this almost always happens when Piper, our granddaughter, is napping. In our panic to keep her asleep, we all quietly hiss for the dog to “shut up!”

The phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do,” kind of hits home when you hear your five-year-old grandson tell the barking dog to “shut up!” — even if no one’s passing by outside.

“Little pitchers have big ears” is a parental proverb that reminds us that adults must be careful about what they say within the hearing range of children. But Scripture tells us we must be careful about what we say, period. We need to not just avoid unwholesome talk, but to also use our words to build up, encourage and help others. And not just the person we’re talking to, but anyone else who happens to hear us.

Questions for Reflection:

• What’s the most encouraging thing someone has said to you recently?

• Do you communicate in a way that honors God and those who hear you?

• How can you be more intentional today about loving others with godly speech?

Our Deeply Rooted devotionals are now designed specifically for you to engage in deeper community with one another. We encourage you to gather together as a team for 15-30 minutes of reading, discussion and prayer each week using the prompts in the devotional.

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