I read Colossians 4 this morning and verses 5 and 6 especially stuck out at me.

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

My first thought regarded the frequency at which I let myself get carried away when I’m upset and let those with whom I’m upset know about it. For example, I have seldom been the most pleasant voice on the telephone to telemarketers or ignorant customer service representatives who have little knowledge about the problem I am trying to resolve. My mom frequently reminds me that we are Christ’s ambassadors to the world, whether they know it or not, and as such, our attitudes toward them should reflect this. Our words should be spoken “with grace, seasoned with salt.” How often I fail at that.

Looking at the context of verses 2-3 might suggest to some people that this grace and salt-seasoned speech is commanded only when sharing the gospel with others (see also Ephesians 4:15). If we are to love our “neighbor(s) as” ourselves (Luke 10:27) and part of love is patience (1 Corinthians 13:4), then it seems that seasoning with grace and salt all our words spoken with members the world is really not so far from what God, through Paul was communicating to us.