As most of you know, I’ve done Youth Ministries and Vacation Bible School events for a long time. And the “Kids Say the Darndest Things” files seem to provide an eternal stream of concurrent hilarity and profundity…which is one of the many reasons I keep hanging out with them!

And recently a child, (who will remain anonymous for reasons that will soon be clear), blurted out, “It is REALLY BAD to hold in (common slang term for bowel gas)! It just hurts your insides so much!”

And before I could acknowledge the visceral discomfort of abdominal distention while also reinforcing basic axioms of societal propriety, this child UNLEASHED an earsplitting emission that temporarily deafened everyone within a 40-foot radius.

And while we were still reeling, the child’s eyes widened in an expression somewhere between relief and panic.

“I need to check myself!” the kid proclaimed, and sprinted off toward the bathroom. Although several notable attributes may have been in short supply, at least this kiddo was not lacking for honesty!

And if we bottle up our true thoughts and suppress our honest opinions, it tears up our insides. This is particularly relevant when it comes to our dealings with others; we need to “Matthew 18 it” and discuss our concerns with the others involved in the conflict rather than letting bitterness erode our joy.

But, some degree of tact will also ensure our speech isn’t streaked with malice. Smear campaigns result in further conflict, and it’s best to “check yourself BEFORE you wreck yourself,” prayerfully considering how to speak truth in love