July 19, 2021: Watch Out for Seagulls!

“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” (Eph. 4:29, NIV).

My family loves the beach. One summer, we went to Hampton Beach in New Hampshire.

After setting up, we went down to the shore. The water was freezing! While my brave sister boogie-boarded, I relaxed in the sun. I thought about how nice it was to be on vacation, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

Suddenly, something hot and soft hit me. I immediately felt around to see what it was. But that was a mistake. I opened my eyes and saw that it was seagull poop! I entered the freezing cold water to get it off my hand and favorite swimsuit.

This whole unpleasant experience was a good reminder though. Birds are pretty to look at and nice to hear, but not when they “go” on you. Christians can be pretty to look at and nice to hear, but none of that matters if we are mean and selfish. The worst part is we can’t take back what we say. It is so important to be careful about what we watch, read and listen to. When we let something into our lives—good or bad, whether through our eyes or ears—it will eventually come out.