Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. NIV
This morning, I went back to the New International Reader’s Version on Bible Gateway.com. There, this verse reads, “Dreams come to people when they worry a lot. When foolish people talk, they use too many words.” NIRV
I like the symmetry of the NIV translation much better, but, the NIRV just lays the issue on the table. When you’re worried, it seems you dream more.
I saw part of a story about dreaming the other day on one of the morning news shows. A dream expert was being interviewed and the moderator asked her if we dream every night, because, she said, she sometimes feels like she’s had dreams in the night, and other times not. The expert said that humans dream an average of about five to seven times a night, but that we tend only to remember dreams when we wake up immediately following them.
When I fail to exercise self control — one of the fruits of the spirit — and I choose to worry over an issue, I don’t sleep well.
Dictionary.com defines “fool” as, “a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.”
If I lack judgment, if I fail to exercise self control over my speech, I’ll say things that I regret.
It is interesting to me that one of the things that people seem to worry about most is stupid, thoughtless things they’ve said to others.
So, there are choices to be made … if I will choose wisely, I will have less cause to worry … and if I will choose not to worry, I’ll sleep better.
That’s a lot to think about today!
365 Days of Peace 