My mouth often gets ahead of my brain. I’ve misspoken many times, but never as bad as I did at a wedding rehearsal dinner.
The pastor and his wife are always invited to the rehearsal dinner and many of the other functions surrounding the wedding of a church member. At this dinner, we were seated at the long head table with the families. Saying the blessing always fell to the pastor.
Conversation was difficult because of the seating arrangement. People at the table started talking about wedding mishaps they had witnessed. I told of a Catholic wedding I had heard about where so many things went awry. Several of the wedding party either passed out or had to sit down. Apparently, there had been too much partying the night before. As the bride walked across to revere the Virgin Mother, she tripped and hit her head on the Holy Water basin. She suffered a bleeding gash.
Big gaffe
Someone down the table just had heard bits and pieces of the story and asked, “Did that happen at your church?”
“Oh, no. We don’t have any virgins in our church.” That’s not what I meant to say, but it’s what came out. I meant to say we had no statues in our church. Nonetheless, the mother of the bride looked appalled as if I had said something to disgrace her daughter in front of her soon-to-be in-laws.
Words spoken can never be unspoken, even if your attempts to correct your gaffe are many. I don’t think I was ever that mother’s favorite person.
Verses to remember
I should have remembered Proverbs 10:19 — When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise — or even better, Proverbs 16:24 — Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.
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