I have a childhood memory of a wall plaque hanging in my grandparents’ house that clearly stated: “Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.” 

I didn’t mind the bit about Christ being in charge or even eating with us, but a silent listener to every conversation ... gulp! 

Every time I walked into my grandparents’ house, I’d glance at that quote on the wall and make sure I watched what I said—even to my younger brothers—lest I be struck by lightning. Even now, whenever I see that quote in my mind, I subconsciously sit up straight and strain to recall every conversation I’ve had over the past few days. Funny, isn’t it, how a simple saying can impact you? And the thing was, my grandparents were a solid example in adhering to that quote in their everyday lives. 

That quote, and my grandparents’ example, taught me throughout my childhood and into adulthood to be measured about how I respond to people and how I treat them, particularly in times of stress or potential confrontation. “If Jesus is listening to this conversation, do I really want to say this or that?” 

Words of Wisdom

I suppose it’s why I’ve always been challenged by the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, particularly passages about how we react in conversations. Verses like: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1), or “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). 

I admit that I have failed many times to live up to King Solomon’s words of wisdom. Conversations that have started out OK, especially in a secular work environment, have often degenerated into putting other people down, slipped into the realm of deceitfulness, or descended into innuendo and slander. 

It’s not a nice feeling, and I’ve sometimes had to ask for God’s forgiveness later or apologize to someone I’ve perhaps offended. 

Personal Motto

A catchy acronym adopted by Christians is WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?). The acronym rose to popularity in the 1990s and became a personal motto for followers of Jesus, who used the phrase as a reminder of their beliefs and to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through their actions. Christians often wore bracelets or wristbands emblazoned with WWJD. 

What if we all adopted a similar acronym, WWJH (What Would Jesus Hear?), and incorporated it into our lives? 

Words can either build up, encourage or motivate, or they can hurt, tear down or leave someone with lasting scars. DEAN SIMPSON

Wise King Solomon once wrote: “A person’s words can be life-giving water—words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4 New English Translation). 

Words can either build up, encourage or motivate, or they can hurt, tear down or leave someone with lasting scars. 

I don’t have my grandparents’ plaque hanging in my house, but I can confidently say that Jesus is the head of my household. And as a father of a 21-year-old and an 18-year-old, my hope is that my children hear words of encouragement and support as they go out into the world each day. 

If Jesus was a silent listener to every conversation you had today, what would He hear?

Reprinted from Salvos Magazine (Australia), October 22, 2022

Photo: fizkes/stock.Adobe.com