Good morning!
     It's a beautiful day outside, the sun is shining and the birds are singing.   It is so peaceful.... I decide to continue my reading in the Proverbs.  Today it's chapter 11.  As I read there are at least 2 verses that stand out to me.
Vs. 16  "A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches."  What is a gracious woman?  Webster's defines gracious as: pleasing, acceptable, attractive, full of grace or charm.    I would like to be considered gracious, how about you?  Webster's goes on to list some Synonyms for the word gracious:  Beneficent, benevolent; charming; agreeable, friendly.  Then some Antonyms:  Ungracious, discourteous, rude, unfriendly.
     These synonym's and antonyms give use something to "chew" on today.  Which one describes me today? Which one describes you?
     Now the second verse that stood out.
Vs. 22  "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion."    After reading the verse I ask myself :"what is discretion"?  I look in Webster's- 4. Quality of being discreet; prudence; hence, cautious reserve, especially in speech.
     I give myself another challenge.."am I discreet and cautious in my speech?   Today is another day, another opportunity to live for the Lord.  Another day to seek His help in my actions and speech.  Some have said, "we are the only Bible some will ever read."   Will they "read" in my actions and words something gracious and discrete?  I will need to ask Him to help me with this.
     Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD my rock and my redeemer."
     What we meditate on today will be what comes from our mouth and will be one of the things that affect our actions.  Let's check our thoughts today so that we can speak with discretion and graciousness.  Let's be in the Word of God so that we know how we are to think, act and speak. I recently heard a speaker who said:  "What we think about will come out of our mouths."   At first I thought this was quite a bold statement but then I started to see that the things I thought about did come out of my mouth!
     Perhaps today needs to begin with an apology to someone we have hurt with our speech?  A great way to cleanse the conscience is to acknowledge our errors and clear them up.  Let's put into action what we read with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Let us be women of graciousness and discretion, with the Lord's help.