Mosaic (Oct 31)

The quiet fall vibes, leaves already dropped

From the dining room window, I watch the kids cut across our yard into the neighbor’s. The morning air bites, crisp and sharp, as temperatures dip below zero.

Each step disrupts the grey, sparkling shimmer of frost, leaving a trail of footprints behind. Days later, the prints still remain—a patchwork of dead grass marking their path. Boot tracks, bike tire lines, each one etching the shortcut into the yard.

Their chatter drifts through the cold—talk of outfits, pesky siblings, and the excitement of “buddies day.” They wander along the familiar path, laughter rising in the air. They pass by as always, boots crunching on frost, unaware that each shortcut bruises the grass beneath. We’ve reminded them before, but habit wins.

The damage doesn’t show right away, but each step gives a small twist in the gut—a farmer’s knowing ache.

Watching them, I think about how easy it is to lose sight of what’s underfoot. Distraction pulls our eyes elsewhere, leaving quiet damage behind. Lately, I’ve seen it in my words.

The thought lingers as Jesus’ words come to mind: “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:36).

Every. Careless. Word.

The moment I judge someone mid-conversation and let it slip through a sharp word.

When I repeat something that was probably a rumour—words dressed as concern but rooted in gossip.

When frustration spills out because plans unravel.

What humbles me most isn’t just the words themselves, but what they uncover—the heart behind them. Our careless speech lays bare what’s hidden within. We grieve. Not only for the sin we see, but for the trail it leaves behind, like bootprints scarring the grass.

Scripture reminds us how powerful our words are. James writes that the tongue is like a bit in a horse’s mouth, a rudder steering a ship, a spark that can set an entire forest ablaze. It may make up only half a percent of our body weight, yet its impact is significant.

A restless evil, James calls it—untamed and wildly inconsistent.

We recall the list of our careless words, wrap ourselves in a shroud of shame. Yet even here, in our failure to control our tongue, grace speaks first. Repentance begins by asking Him to cleanse not only our lips, but the heart that shapes them. Just as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Ps. 51:10).

Like the grass beneath the children’s boots, what’s been crushed can grow again. Over time, the frost melts, the ground softens, and new shoots appear. So it is when repentance takes root—God restores what our words have damaged. 

The Word made flesh never spoke carelessly. His words healed the sick, welcomed the outcast, silenced storms, and forgave sinners. Ours falter, but His never fail. In repentance, we return to Him—the One whose perfect speech reshapes ours. Each confession, each prayer for cleansing, brings our tongue under His rule. And slowly, by His Spirit, our words begin to echo His: steady, pure, and full of grace and truth.

Father, out of the overflow of our hearts our mouths speak. We confess sinful words—harsh, careless, proud, and untrue—and the hearts that produce them. Have mercy on us and cleanse our hearts. Give us genuine sorrow and true repentance that turns from sin. Let our speech be always gracious and seasoned with salt, building up and giving grace to those who hear. Rule our hearts so our words reflect the mercy of Christ. Today, set a guard over our lips, and make our tongues instruments of life. In Jesus’s name, amen.

For further reading or study, check out these:

On the Blog

On My Shelf

• I started reading Babel by R.F. Kuang after seeing it come through my Goodreads feed a few times. It's an interesting assortment of fantasy, historical fiction and language translation. (general market)

• Still working through Fruitful and A Place For You (but my commentary reading for bible study has been taking more of my non-fiction reading time!)

In Articles

How Your Hidden Life in Christ Makes You Richer Than You Think | Cara Ray

We’re rich in Christ, yet often live like spiritual paupers when we neglect the hidden life of prayer and the Word. My friend, Cara, reminds us that communion with God isn’t a duty to perform but a holy leisure to enjoy.

When Play Becomes A Spiritual Practice | Sarah Butterfield

I think what struck me reading this was the realization we're so rooted in productivity that often we feel the need to justify our hobbies and enjoyment with a purpose. This reminds me to be aware of my own hustling and find time to enjoy the unhurried moments. (I'm also really looking forward to Brianna Lambert's book, Created to Play: Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually, that will come out next year)

You Don't Have to be Perfect | Brian Sherman (Daily Grace Co)

I appreciated how this articles addresses habits through the lens of grace. If you're working on finishing the year well or wrestle with shame, you'll find encouragement here.

You're Their Mom or Dad, Not Their Pastor or Evangelist | Tim Challies

In this article, we're challenged as parents to our primary calling: to be mom or dad, not a pastor to our children. Of course we desire our children to love and follow the Lord, but there's a difference in these roles. We're encouraged to keep our loving parental relationship intact while trusting God with the heart change we can't force.

The Never-Ending Novelty of Staying with the Same Person | Seth Lewis

"There is a constant newness and novelty that only comes as you adjust to one another's differences and begin to bring out the best in each other." This doesn't happen in a microwave, but rather a slow-cooker. And isn't it a beautiful truth to hold onto as we age and by God's grace grow into.