Mr. Nasty

One of my favorite movies is You've Got Mail. In this movie, Kathleen Kelly (Meg) and Joe Fox (Tom) have this relationship where they are constantly at each others throats. Through this 'non-personal' business of putting someone else out of business, they have several interactions. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Joe talks to Kathleen (in e-mail) about remorse that follows when you say exactly what you want to say to someone the moment you mean to say it.

Joe: "...Someone provokes you, and instead of just smiling and moving on, you zing them. Hello, it's Mr. Nasty."

Kathleen: "I know what you mean and I'm completely jealous. What happens to me when I'm provoked is that I get tongue-tied. My mind goes blank. Then I spend all night tossing and turning trying to think of what I should have said."

Joe: "...I must warn you that when you finally have the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say at the moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows."

Later on in the movie, Kathleen gets her moment of telling Joe exactly what she thinks of him. And he is right; remorse follows. She feels satisfied for the moment, but then regrets everything she says.

I have been thinking lately and contemplating the deeper meaning of this verse:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Here Paul, Silas or Timothy (1 Thes 1:1) encourages us to use our words as support rather than a wrecking ball. So many times I say things in jest or to provoke a response out of someone. I say I 'mean no harm.' But what is my true motive in saying such things.

I have to be mindful of the comments I make, even when I'm "joking." I know that I have been broken down by someone's "joking comment" before. I don't want to be known as Ms. Nasty.

Some statements should just be left unsaid. Build one another up. Encourage one another. Think about how what you say effects those around you. Show the love of Christ through your encouragement, not sarcasm.