Don’t know where it came from but when I get startled, the words “Namatay ang kalabaw (The carabao died)” sometimes slip out of my mouth. 

Last month I noticed that on separate occasions, two of my cooks also said those words when they got startled. I got reminded that my words and actions influence the people around me.   

That reminds me of what Avery Willis taught from “Lead Like Jesus” that we are leading people whether or not we know it. People take note of our ways. I pray that the output of my life will be worth emulating. 

Dear Lord, pls guard my heart and fill me with Your Spirit that even when I am caught off guard, my ways will be aligned with Yours and glorifying to You in Jesus’s name amen