My great granddaughter turned three a few days ago, and as birthdays tend to do, it caused me to think about how time slips by so quickly.

 Little by little we adjust to and accept things – like the frog in a pot of boiling water story (an urban legend with the premise that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is put in warm water that is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not notice the danger and will be cooked to death), barely noted, if perceived at all.

 Society accepts things previously considered “off-limits” or wrong, and before we realize what is happening, we have become like-minded.

 When I was young there was no bad language tolerated from us kids, and we didn’t hear it from our parents either. By the time I was nearing the end of high school, a few of those previously unused words and phrases had crept in somehow and become part of my everyday conversation. My mother would say, “it isn’t ladylike,” but it wasn’t a huge amount, and not near as nasty and vulgar as what is common today, but it had come to roost, nevertheless. Besides “everybody” at school was saying such things so how bad could it be anyway?

 When I was 20, I met Jesus. And because of that, the Bible which I had never really read, aside from the verses in my Sunday school lessons, became much more interesting and I read it hungrily. It wasn’t long before I found Titus 2:6-8.

 “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;  in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (NASB)

 I became suddenly aware that there was a whole lot more to this born-again experience I had just embraced than I realized.

 I asked the Lord’s help cleaning up my potty mouth. He did, of course, and I had my first experience praying for something specific and seeing that prayer answered.

 My mind lingered upon the thought of how easily unclean words and phrases had slipped into my family. My next thought was, how many other things have somehow become “okay” in my life and my attitude?

I was raised in church but always felt like I was missing something. Now the Word of God excites me! My curiosity enhances the pursuance of discernment. I have often felt discouraged, but not totally defeated knowing that in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.