What Goes In Is What Comes Out

This segment of "Things I Have Learned From Little Girl" was first shared in my February 2008 newsletter.

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Changes happen so fast.  One day, Rachel was saying just one or two words at a time.  The very next day, it seems, she was singing the alphabet song all the way through.  She has picked up on numerous expressions that people around her use on a daily basis.  Of course, we’ve deliberately added some of the cuter expressions.  “Oh man.“  “Oh boy!“  “Oh my goodness!“  “Oh no!“   

More and more often, she puts the words she knows together in unique ways to express her own unique thoughts and desires…just as a two-year-old should.  She doesn’t need to study anything.  She doesn’t have to try and memorize the words.  No one has to teach them to her.  She simply absorbs the language that surrounds her.   

Thankfully, no one around her is in the habit of using language I wouldn’t want her to repeat.  Still, I know very well that if she were exposed to bad language, she would quickly absorb it and repeat it, just as quickly and easily as everything else.

I don’t think we are all that different.  True, as adults, we don’t develop and change as quickly as Rachel does.  Even so, the things with which we surround ourselves have a profound impact on our thoughts, desires, attitudes, actions and speech.   

When we are under pressure, the things that fill us are the things that come out.  As believers, we are to be “in the world, but not of it”.  We can’t totally isolate ourselves from things around us that God would not want us to imitate, nor should we.   

We can, however, make sure that we deliberately fill our minds and hearts with things that are pleasing to God.  If we do, then no matter what happens, no matter what pressures we encounter, the things that fill us are the things that will come out.  Let’s be sure that we fill our hearts and minds with things that are pleasing to God. 

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8