Our actions immediately give first impressions to all those around us.  

Recently after a soccer game, I saw a coach walk off the field over to a group of parents. Before he spoke to the group he looked around four times making sure nobody was around to overhear what he was about to say.  The look on his face made him guilty before he even opened his mouth.  He was giddy with excitement over what he was about to tell the parents.  It was unfortunate for him that he didn’t know one of the club’s major supporters was standing right next to him, seeing his actions and hearing his words.  

As I was standing there watching this take place, I found myself thinking about times when I had said something that required me to look around before I spoke.  At that moment I wondered, why do I speak if I have to look around before talking?  How productive is what I am saying if I have to make sure certain people do not hear?  It was painful to watch the coach after the soccer game, but at the same time, I was grateful for the lesson it taught me.  At that moment I prayed that that my actions and words would be worthy of all eyes and ears.  

When my girls were little we had a rule that if you were telling a secret to someone, the only secret you were allowed to say was, “I love you.”  This started when they were VERY young and it always seemed to make them laugh and change their actions to something more positive.  

If the girls were whispering to their friends or cousins and leaving someone out, all I had to say was, “You know the only secret you are allowed to tell in this house!”  Others did not know, but my girls knew what the secret was and they certainly didn’t want me to tell their friends or cousins!  Of course, I never had to tell the secret because all whispering stopped at the possibility of me saying, “I love you” in front of their peers.  

It doesn’t happen very often anymore, but I have been known to bring up that little secret when actions are not appropriate.  I must say, it still works like a charm.  The moment my kids think I might divulge “the secret of the house”, actions improve immediately.  

I have been reminded this week that actions and spoken words follow you even when you least expect them.  I have been reminded that if I have to look around before I say something, it is best that I don’t say it at all!  I try to improve my actions on an ongoing basis.  Although I find myself slipping from time to time, I pray that my actions will reflect my intended path and my faith.  

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