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But, do you realize that offense is just an event—to live offended, though, is a decision. We cannot always control the things that have been done against us, but we always have the choice of our response. Our response is always our responsibility. We make the choice of how we are going to allow some word or action affect our hearts. What are we willing to allow access to our hearts?

Here’s the thing: we could know all the intricacies of words and master the ever-expanding English vocabulary, but mastering our mouths and the things that come out of them is an entirely different animal. I can’t begin to tell you the number of times where I have said the wrong thing. There are the times where I have said things to the wrong people. Then, there are the painful moments where I have said the wrong things to the wrong people. The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” But, then, we read from James 3:8, “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Even when I do run, it has never really been because I wanted to be running; it has felt like something I had to do. I have to run to be in shape. I have to run to stop my kids from doing something dangerous. I have to run before someone snags the last doughnut. It’s not the case for everyone, but running is more of an obligation than an enjoyment for me. There is a monumental difference, however, between feeling like we have to do something and feeling like we get to do something.