Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All

Book Description

With a kind, encouraging, and sometimes funny delivery, seven-time author, blogger, and member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries national speaking team Karen Ehman addresses women and words—how we talk to each other and ourselves, in writing or out loud—and when it’s good to say nothing at all.

Let’s face it: Every woman from Bible times to modern times sometimes struggles with her words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. And what to do when she says something she wishes she could take back. In Keep It Shut, a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the how’s and why’s of dealing with the tongue.

Turning to scriptural insights and her own stories, Karen Ehman shows readers what the Bible says about when to speak, why great words start with great listening, wisdom for using words in social media, why “just sharing a prayer request” might be gossip, how to use words effectively at work and home, and why self-talk matters too.

Words have the power to build up and the power to destroy. Using them well leads to healthier relationships, less stress, and fewer regrets. Best of all, it leads to the joy of seeing what God can do when he’s the one who speaks up.

Keep It Shutby Karen Ehman explores how to better control your tongue, knowing what to say and how to say it, and realizing when it is best to say nothing at all.

From Bible times to modern times women have struggled with their words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. When it is best to remain silent. And what to do when you’ve said something you wish you could now take back. In this book a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue.

Beyond just a “how not to gossip” book, this book explores what the Bible says about the many ways we are to use our words and the times when we are to remain silent. Karen will cover using our speech to interact with friends, co-workers, family, and strangers as well as in the many places we use our words in private, in public, online, and in prayer. Even the words we say silently to ourselves. She will address unsolicited opinion-slinging, speaking the truth in love, not saying words just to people-please, and dealing with our verbal anger.

Christian women struggle with their mouths. Even though we know that Scripture has much to say about how we are—and are not—to use our words, this is still an immense issue, causing heartache and strain not only in family relationships, but also in friendships, work, and church settings.

I found this book to be a very useful book. We all have said things that we have later regretted. It is much better to think first and speak later. Often what we want to say doesn't need to be said.Karen shares examples from her own life in ways she has failed. Her stories will make you both laugh and cry. Loved her transparency and willingness to help out other women in this area. 

About the Author

Karen Ehman is the communications coordinator for Proverbs 31 Ministries and a writer for their online daily devotions. Her numerous books include A Life That Says Welcome and Let. It. Go. She is a favorite presenter at women’s events and a frequent guest on national television and radio programs. Karen is also a contributor to Focus on the Family’s online magazine, Thriving Family. She lives with her family in central Michigan.

Karen Ehman has been described as profoundly practical, engagingly funny and downright real. Her passion is to provide women, wives and mothers with creative tools and doable ideas to help them both simplify life and glorify God. She the Director of the Proverbs 31 Ministries national speaking team and is a contributor to Focus on the Family's magazine Thriving Family.

She is a featured speaker for Hearts at Home conferences for moms and is the author of four womens books including A Life That Says Welcome: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others and The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized. She is also the project creator of the Hearts at Home Just for Moms Planner an organizational tool designed specifically for the purpose of helping mothers organize their personal and family lives.

She has been a guest on national television and radio programs including The 700 Club, At Home Live, Engaging Women, The Harvest Show, Moody Midday Connection and Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family. She is a graduate of Spring Arbor University with a B.A. in Social Science and has been married for 24 years to her college sweetheart Todd. She is the mother of three sometimes quarrelsome, but mostly charming children: Mackenzie 20, Mitchell 16 and Spencer 13.

Before motherhood, Karen was a teacher and high school coach who actually had hobbies. Now she spends her days running carpool, parked in the football bleachers or baseball stadium or stealing away to a coffee shop to write or to work on a new speaking message. Though hopelessly craft-challenged with pitiful, partially finished scrapbooks, she enjoys baking and cooking and has won several blue ribbon rosettes at various county fairs for her cookies, cakes, pies and breads.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book to review by BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review.