O Yahweh, bibig ko ay iyong bantayan, ang mga labi ko’y lagyan mo ng bantay.

Awit 141:3

May kasabihang, “Confidence is silent. Insecurities are loud.” Malamang ay may nakahalubilo ka nang mga taong hindi mapigilan ang pag-iingay. I am not pertaining to our chatterbox friends who happen to also be the life of the party, or that BFF of ours who‘s always there to cheer us up and never runs out of funny antics. I am referring to those people na “mema” o short for “may masabi lang.” These are the persons who, to mask their insecurities, ay dinadaan sa pagyayabang, pamimintas ng iba, at pagbubuhat ng sariling bangko. Being around such individuals may be fun at first, pero kalaunan ay mare-realize mong wala kang napupulot na maganda sa pakikisama sa kanila. In fact, surrounding yourself with them feels like you‘re being wrapped in toxicity.

Another saying comes to mind: “Tell me who your friends are, and I‘ll tell you who you are.” Oo nga‘t kalooban ng Diyos na tayo‘y maging palakaibigan at maging mabait sa kapwa, but it is also our responsibility to choose what we expose ourselves to. Though it is permissible to entertain ourselves with movies and music, kailangang piliin din natin kung ano ang pinapanood at pinapakinggan natin. Being around negative people affects us in the long run. Hindi lamang may tendency na magaya natin ang kanilang pagsasalita at pagkilos, kundi pati na rin ang pag-uugali.

Kaya naman, let us join the psalmist in his prayer in Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Tunay ngang kailangan natin ang tulong ng Diyos para bantayan hindi lang ang lumalabas sa ating mga labi kundi pati na rin ang mga kinikilos natin. When we are filled with God and His Word, we can live according to His will ― as salt and light of the world.