Broken Shivers

Saturday, March 05, 2005

The very last word...


This morning, my son yelled at my daughter. 'I got the last word! The last word was :)

The similarities we share with our children! Sometimes we wonder where they get that hot little temper only to take a closer look at ourselves and say, "Ah ha." It seems we all have an overwhelming need to have the last word. To constantly maneuver for the end of a discussion is maddening. We aren't just talking a 'you are wrong and I'm right' kind of last word, either. We're talking about 'I'll get the last word if I have to kill you' last word. Down to the last dotted 'i' and crossed 't', we will not relent. Getting the last word is really an illusion of control.


We'll try to get the last word no matter how obnoxious it makes us appear, how unlovely, how ungentlemanly or how unladylike. Unless one is insane, what it all boils down to is pride. We will let pride get in the way of friendship, even love, just to get the last word.

Proverbs 13:10 says "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."

Is it worth it to get the last word? I wonder.

posted by Johnny at 12:20 PM

14 Comments:

  • utterly. :)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:11 AM  

  • lol.. how cryptic.

    By Blogger Johnny, at 2:30 AM  

  • I can just see Peeps saying 'poop' :) Did you wash his mouth out with soap like you did when he was two?

    Daniella

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:47 AM  

  • No, Danni, he's old enough to reason with now. I just threaten to wash his mouth out with soap. lol

    By Blogger Johnny, at 6:40 AM  

  • Having to get the last word is destructive to any relationship. It's right up there with the
    "won't speak first after an argument" game. Ever play that one?

    By Blogger Hopeful, at 11:37 AM  

  • Oh boy... this is a sore spot for me. I am prone to wanting the last word but the Lord has shown how sneaky and deep-seated this desire can be for me. I am not prone to argue until I get the last " ... so there!" My desire for the last word is not so much a control issue as a "focus on me" issue. I don't want to control, I just want everyone to realize how "right" I am. They can always think what they want after they accept my "superiority". The way that I have worked on this problem is to try and stop thinking ahead of a discussion and just focus on the "now". If I focus on what others are saying and then check to see if I have any input, I tend to realize I can just keep my mouth shut and not have the "last word" or speak the "ultimate truth... according to Elaine." It isn't easy because my "me monster" is pretty strong, but I do claim victories more often than defeats in the war against my flesh (in this area ... lol).

    Great topic John ~~
    Have a lovely day,
    Elaine \o/

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:22 PM  

  • Elaine, glad you like the topic. :) You said: I tend to realize I can just keep my mouth shut and not have the "last word" or speak the "ultimate truth... according to Elaine."

    I would suggest you NOT keep your mouth shut IF you speak the truth. It's only a 'sin' if one gets the last word when it not due them. :)

    I heart you as always...

    By Blogger Johnny, at 1:15 PM  

  • Dana,
    I don't play that game, no. It seems so .. mmmh ... best not say the word. :) The 'last word' game can be destructive when it is truly a game.

    xoxoxo

    By Blogger Johnny, at 1:16 PM  

  • Tell me he didn't swear at two years of age? lol.

    Nice blog John, I might have said that already.

    Di.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:52 PM  

  • Di,
    I decided that 'poop' wasn't swearing, but Peeps was six on NY's Eve,and Melina is now 5. Time flies, eh?

    Glad you like my blog. :)

    Jessica, yes, pretty good timing. Do you like to get the last word? :)

    By Blogger Johnny, at 11:58 PM  

  • Sometimes you don't even have to speak to have that last word....lol. Just yesterday in the car, on the way home from church, Scott and I were having a friendly discussion when I didn't make a comment to his last word. About 30 seconds later he said.."Oh, she speaks volumes and doesn't say a word." We had a good laugh about that one. :)

    Jan

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:49 AM  

  • Sure didn't take long for him to figure you out. I'd forgotten, almost, that cute pout. ;)

    By Blogger Johnny, at 11:33 AM  

  • She does have a cute pout :)... goes along with the gentleness about her

    pam

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:47 PM  

  • Ran across this quote today and thought of your blog post :)

    "A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument."

    By Blogger SweetT, at 1:56 PM  

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