In the book, *Becoming A Woman Who Pleases God*, by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock, graciousness is defined as the attribute of being kindly disposed or showing favor and mercy to someone, usually by a person of superior position and power. Some scriptural examples of this type of graciousness is seen as Potiphar is gracious to Joseph in Genesis 39 and of King Ahasuerus' gracious treatment to Esther in Esther 2:17; 5:2. Of course scripture shows our God as the ultimate gracious One in Psalm 86:15 as it portrays God as "full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and Truth."God's Word speaks clearly on having gracious speech, which is one way a wise woman should be gracious in her home. The authors of *Becoming A Woman Who Pleases God* list these scriptures as ones to memorize and meditate upon regarding gracious speech.
Proverbs 10:19-20--"When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little."
Proverbs 15:1--"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Proverbs 16:24--"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Proverbs 17:27--"He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding."
Proverbs 29:20--"Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
Proverbs 25:11--"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."
Psalm 19:14--"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
Dr.John MacArthur says this in His sermon on The Excellent Wife:
She guides her family daily in wisdom. I believe the father is to be a teacher in the home. I believe he is the family priest. But I do not believe for one moment that that precludes the reality that it is the mother who day in and day out, hour in and hour out is teaching wisdom to the children. Not formal classes, but instruction in the flow of life, she's the teacher. Men, we may give the formal lessons but day in and day out she's the teacher.
And in what attitude does her teaching come? Proverbs 31,verse 26, "The wisdom of God comes out of her mouth and the law of kindness is on her tongue." The attitude in which she teaches all of this is a dominant attitude of loving kindness. What a challenge. What does that mean? Gracious speech, kind speech, tender speech, pleasing speech, compassionate speech, ministering grace to the hearers, as Paul said, edifying, building up. That which comes out of her mouth is the wisdom of God in tender and compassionate gracious kind words. What a teacher. The greatest teacher because the character of life makes her so believable, because the wisdom of God is true and because the attitude is compassionate and gracious...no teacher like that. What a portrait. Believe me, women, this is a challenge of a life time.
