O Lord, set a watch before my mouth!

I think that we rarely consider the effect that our words have on those that hear.  Sometimes...we really don't care because we "just need to get it off my chest".  Sometimes..."well, it's the truth and somebody needed to hear it".  Sometimes...we don't think...till after the damage has been done.  Sometimes..."if you can't say something nice...say nothing at all!"  Many times...we just don't think!  Proverbs 18:21...death and life are in the power of the tongue!
I speak all day long to, with, and at our children.  I stopped short, yesterday, in a conversation I was having with Ashlynn.  Her eyes glazed over...at what I said or how I said it...I'm not sure.  My heart was stricken with sadness as I realized the affect my words were having on her.  Even though I was speaking the truth, I am sure it was hard for her to hear.  Yes, sometimes, we need to be direct and strong with our words...but love needs to encircle every noun, verb, adverb, and adjective that make up each thought.  Proverbs 31:26 
Then last night, I spent time with a little girl who "had alot going on in my life right now".  She was given some information that was not uplifting to her.  Her night spiraled out of control and she was going to lash out to get even.  The "informant" was not showing kindness in the choice to give her these facts, and it devastated her.  She allowed me to pray with her, encourage her, and give her a hug.  Psalm 52:2, James 3:8
There was another instance where another's words were cruel and should have never been said.  Someone who should know better.  I Peter 3:10 
And it got me to thinking...often...we don't know better, because we don't read how to get better!  God's Word gives us what we need in the Bible...we just need to spend time there!  Psalm 19:14
Yes, we expect Christians to think, act, and speak differently.
But (and then the story changes!), we must remember: when we are not spending time with the Lord every day, obeying His Words, and asking God to work in our life...we will not be able to speak with the law of kindness.  We cannot do right in our own strength...well, at least for not very long! 
Even when we do seek to do right, we can make a wrong choice and follow our own fleshly desires!  I know...I have had to seek forgiveness. The Bible addresses our tongue numerous times.  God knows our hearts, and He knows our struggles.  In our heart dwelleth no good thing...and what is inside...is bound to come out!   Psalm 139:4...even when the words don't come to our tongue and they are still in our heart...God knows!
We can have a pretty package and put on a good act, but we will show others the minute we open our mouth to speak...if we are asking the Lord to set a watch over us...or not!  In the course of one day, I personally was confronted with the matter of our tongue four times!  I can't change the actions of others.  That is not my responsibility!  I am responsible for my actions.  I will always be held accountable...sometimes by others...but always by God! 
Others are listening to what I say...and how I say it!  "O, dear Lord, set a watch before my tongue!" Psalm 141: 3.