GOAT TYING

Roz’s mom, my mother-in-law, F.P. Leewright; died three years ago, at ninety-five. She was an out-spoken, colorful and giving woman. She was from the country in East Texas and had many wonderful country sayings. One that I like is, “Don’t tell people where your goat is tied up.” The reasoning for this saying is, “Then no one can ever get your goat.”

There is much wisdom in this colloquial saying. For someone “to get our goat,” means they are able to frustrate and upset us. Don’t let someone know your sensitive and vulnerable spots, what ticks you off, or what makes you feel bad or ashamed. There is no reason to give others access to the areas of our lives that are better kept private. We are vulnerable enough as it is without giving away our defenses of secrecy and reserve. Some things must be left as mystery to others.

“How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you. Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them. I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say. By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty”. Jesus