I’ve got this friend. Good person, head on straight, steady temperament. The kind of person who’s pleasant ninety‑nine percent of the time. And we were talking recently, just a normal conversation, when suddenly they started… cussing. Not swearing. Not cursing. Not using profanity. Cussing! There’s a difference, and you know it when you hear it.
And though it surprised me, it didn’t bother me. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t say, “Hey, I’m a pastor, don’t make me file a report!” I just let it roll. At one point they said to me – partly with a chuckle and partly with a tear – “I’m sorry, but cussing is the only thing that’s helping me right now.” And we both let out a small laugh – because sometimes that’s the only pressure valve we’ve got.
Later on, they told me they were doing better, that the cussing was slowing down. And I said, “In your case, because it’s not a habit, the cussing is just a symptom. Like throwing up.” And we both laughed again, but I meant it.
Because every now and then something comes out of us that doesn’t match who we usually are – or who we want to be. A sharp edge in our voice. A reaction that surprises even us. A knock, a rattle, or black smoke – from an engine that normally runs smooth. These are indicators that something under the hood needs attention.
And the blessing in this is we know this great mechanic who doubles as a therapist, who sees past the symptoms to the source. He isn’t confused by our noise or our flare‑ups. He understands what’s happening in us even when we don’t. We don’t have to pretend we’re fine. We don’t need an appointment, and He doesn’t charge us for His services. We just bring whatever’s sputtering to the One who already knows how to calm us down as He works on setting it right.
Something to take just a moment to thankfully consider today.
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