Foot in Mouth, again

If you're human, then I'm betting that at some point in your life you've said something you regretted.

Or what about this? Have you ever used a word you shouldn't? Used it so much it just became a part of your vocabulary...even though, again, it shouldn't have?

I had one of these moments a couple weeks ago. This too has to do with my hurt neck.


I was with the ladies in my bible study. It was near the end of our time together, when we always share prayer requests and I let them know how ready I was to get over this neck injury thing by saying, "I really need prayer. I can barely turn my head, it's so retarded!"

Instantly, I said, "Oh, I shouldn't have said that. I just feel so lame because I can't move my neck."

My conscience seared me! I hate to admit it, but I have used the word retarded since I was in grade school. Probably since 7th grade. Which just proves the point of this post. It's so juvenile of me to use that word in any way but the way it's really meant to be used.

To make my vocabulary choice even worse, the Sunday just before this bible study, someone at our church had given everyone a pep talk about why it's completely inappropriate and painful to use this word in a joking manner. Several of the bible study ladies were there and heard the same speech I did.

And really I couldn't agree more, which is why I felt like such a BIG jerk!

No one gave me a hard time, but I didn't exactly make eye contact with anyone right after I said it. I'm pretty sure that I embarrassed myself enough that I'll never use the word that way again.