The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 14:6-10, “But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Thereupon he promised with an oath

to give her whatever she asked. 8 And having been prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ 9 And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. 10 And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.”

Solomon said there is “…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7).

Whether the Australians were prompted by Solomon’s words, I’ll never know;

but when they didn’t want to reveal what they were thinking, they would simply say, “Humm…”

Herod would have done well to have kept his mouth shut. But in a flurry of excitement over the girl’s dancing, he blurted out in front of everyone with the solemn promise that he would give the girl whatever she wanted. She then asked for the head of John the Baptist.

Have you ever hastily said something in the flash of a moment –something you

wished you’d never said? I sure have, and more than once! Words then become

a trap. Put up or shut up. But it’s too late to decide. You’ve spoken, and everyone has heard it. The proverbial “cat is out of the bag.” Sometimes words are healing;

sometimes they hurt deeply. When our words are positive and well-intended, they are helpful; when they are negative –well-intended or not—they are hurtful. We might all learn a lesson from Herod –even more so from Solomon; or maybe even

from the Aussies’ Humm… What do you think?

We love you positively and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”