“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” Proverbs 13:3

A talkative, outgoing person might read this passage and feel condemned. Does God favor the quiet? If this is the conclusion that we draw from this passage, we have badly missed the point. God is the perfect giver, and His gifts have great diversity. Just as no two snowflakes are the same, no two people are exactly alike. Some are naturally quiet and soft spoken, while others are blessed with thunderous voices and hearty laughter. The quiet can bless with a soft grace and gentle, well-placed word of encouragement, or they can fail to warn of approaching danger. The outgoing can bring cheer and joy to a room, or they can broadcast a matter better left concealed. Virtue is not found in the personality; it is found in the wisdom to discern how and when to speak a word. This wisdom is found in keeping, or guarding, our mouth. How do we effectively guard our mouths: