The junior high and high school years can be cruel. I remember being on the receiving end of some pretty mean words. And unfortunately, I also remember dishing out a few words I wish I had never spoken.

Jean and I were in the same class and rode the school bus together. We weren’t close friends – just acquaintances. I’m not sure why I chose to make fun of her, but all these years later I wish I could rewind the clock and apologize for the way I acted.

I was sitting with one of my friends on the bus when we slowed down in front of her house. As the door slid open, and Jean boarded the bus, I made a comment to the kids behind us that her hair looked greasy.  As we laughed, Jean took her seat and asked what was so funny. I made something up, and pretended to be nice to her.

Also include a link to the post) It probably left the other kids with a serious question. Was I doing the same thing to them – cutting them down and then just pretending to be their friend? I had a lot to learn.

 The dictionary defines ‘discretion’: “The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.” (The American Heritage Dictionary; 1982) My words all those years ago – had I spoken them directly to Jean – would have caused deep hurt.

Look at what King Solomon had to say about discretion:

When my words are discreet, they serve as a source of protection and help maintain a high standard. They are wise words.

Several Proverbs contrast the response of the discreet person with the fool. It’s easy to read through the following scenarios and know how I should respond. But the real test comes when the pressure is on and I’m tempted to let discretion slide.

I’m no longer that teenager on the bus deciding when to speak and when to stay quiet. But every day I get to choose how to respond to the tough stuff of life. When I yield to the Holy Spirit, I can use my words to encourage others and display a beauty ‘do’ that never goes out of style – discretion.