Have you ever tried to put toothpaste back in the dispenser after you squeezed it out?  It is virtually impossible.  You can try to push it back into the cap but all it will do is spread out over your hand and make a big mess.  You can try to cut the back end and put it in that way and that will actually work.  But the problem is now you have an open tube that will constantly leak every time you try to push more out of the front end. 

When we are quick to anger we tend to say things that we shouldn’t say.  And just like the toothpaste that comes out of the end, when we allow evil things to come out of our mouths they are out there and we can’t put them back now.  Words can be very damaging.  The Bible is very specific about words, “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20-21 NIV)

And sometimes we try to take the damaging things we’ve said and put them back in another way.  The problem is just like the other end of that toothpaste container we try to mend our relationships with people after hurting them by stitching up the hole we created or placing the proverbial “duct tape” on it for a temporary fix.  The problem is when that toothpaste container is built up with pressure, the toothpaste will eventually leak out from that end that we tried to temporarily fix. 

When you’ve spoken in a mean manner to someone or about someone the best way to fix it is to start over again with a new tube of toothpaste and throw the old one away.  What do I mean by that?  Start by going to them with a heartfelt apology then asking if they can forgive you.  It may take time but coming straight forward with them and acknowledging what you did wrong and asking for forgiveness goes a long way toward building a bridge to a lasting relationship, whether it’s a friend, family member, business associate, mate, spouse, or fellow employee. 

Rebuilding broken relationships can be very difficult because you are rebuilding trust that has been abused.   However it will be much easier if you watch what comes out of your mouth in the first place.  Read and meditate on this scripture and put it to memory and you will no longer need to try to push the toothpaste back in the dispenser. 

“Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.”  (James 1:19-21 MSG)

God bless you!

Robert T Sells