Did you cuss?

Christians are supposed to be “the best of the best with honors, sir” (quoted from Will Smith in the movie Men in Black). We are not supposed to cuss or speak ill of others even when they hurt us. In Luke 6:28, KJV it says, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for those mistreating you.” Romans 12:14 NIV states, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse”. Finally, 1st Peter 3:10 NIV says, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” We get it Jesus, we are not supposed to curse. We are yet striving to be like you.

These last two years painful things occurred that were out of my control, and there were times when a cuss word wanted to slip out. There I said it! Confession is good for the soul. The Lord’s grace and mercy brought me back to the reality that if I am going to represent Him, I have to stick to His godly standards. That is all right with me. I wrote this poem to express my feelings of hurt. Maybe you can relate, and maybe you can’t. I am sharing my heart with you:

“I Didn’t Cuss”

I didn’t cuss, I didn’t cuss, I wanted to, I felt I must.

The hurt I felt was so unjust.

Hurt from here, hurt from there, my heart was hurting everywhere.

I played by the rules that I was taught

Be kind, show love, but it was for naught.

The world had different rules to play,

In their rules I had no say.

Sit down, shut up, your thoughts don’t matter

Wait, I still have a glass ceiling to shatter.

I grew up poor, saw my brothers imprisoned,

It changed my mind, and gave me a new vision.

Within those walls I would never be,

My sound mind and education would set me free

To be, I thought, whatever I wanted to be.

Isn’t that what mama told me?

I didn’t cuss, I didn’t cuss

I wanted to and I felt I might bust

As I tried to keep hurt from turning to hate

To call on sweet Jesus before its too late.

I needed Him to help me carry the weight.

Contents under pressure, straining to pour out

Lifting my burdens with the sound of a shout.

I wanted to cuss, I wanted to cuss, I did not feel

There was anyone I could trust.

But I learned cussing won’t ease this pain.

So I wait, Holy Spirit, for your comfort, rest and rain.

I didn’t cuss.

When people and circumstances cause you pain, you can still trust the Lord. Check out Donnie McClurkin’s beautiful song “I’ll Trust You.”