Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox

Small pen/ink/colored pencil study

Ever been around somebody who is a perpetual chatterbox?  They never seem to find an end of things to ramble on about.  I have waited at times, while enduring the ongoing flow of words, for a person to take a breath so I could change topics or graciously find a way to exit out of the conversation.  The breath never seemed to come.  

The dictionary defines a chatterbox as someone who talks at length about trivial matters.  I see three problems involving a chatterbox:

*First, they talk at length.  Oops!  What ever happened to bouncing the ball in conversation?  You talk, they talk, you respond, they respond.  You LISTEN a lot more than you talk.  It isn't about you and what you think.  You should be desiring to draw out of the other person where they're coming from and how they feel about a topic.  You want to grow in understanding of the other person and the topic.  

*Second, they talk about trivial matters.  Again, the dictionary defines trivial as of little value or importance.  Talk that is trivial is frivolous, insignificant, and shallow.  Ouch!  Does that describe where your conversational levels are at?  Is that all the higher your thoughts go?  "Nourish your minds with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think," was good advice given by Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman and novelist who was twice prime minister.  A good way to nourish your thoughts is to read widely and deeply, and especially in God's Word, the Bible.

*Third, they aren't even aware  that they have a problem of dominating conversations or are very trite in subject matter.  If only they could detect the glazy-eyed look of exasperated listeners or their stifled yawns, maybe they would get a clue.  If only they would pause long enough to listen to your subtle suggestions, but sigh....

What we can learn from Mr. or Mrs. Chatterbox is  this:  Let's not be one ourselves.  Let's be engaging, relevant, interesting and interested in what the other has to say.  Let's fashion our words around what the Bible gives as great guidelines for good conversations:

"You must be quick to listen, 

slow to speak,

and slow to get angry."

James 1:19

"Let your conversation be gracious and attractive

so that you will have the right response for everyone."

Colossians 4:6

"Like apples of gold 

in settings of silver

is a word appropriately spoken."

Proverbs 25:11

(Small watercolor study)

Live bravely and  beautifully!