It amazes me that something like yawning can be contagious. And yet I’ve experienced it for myself. Just this morning my husband yawned while we were walking the dog. After a moment I had an incredible urge to yawn as well. I actually tried to fight it but eventually gave in.

All sorts of behaviors are contagious among humans. Even attitudes can be catching. Like people with a cold, being around people with bitter and negative attitudes can send me careening in that direction as well, if I’m not careful to protect myself or get out of there.

Swearing is also contagious, oddly. My mother once participated in a weeks-long medical study. She was required to stay on-site with the other subjects of the study. Apparently those subjects swore a lot because when she came home, her speech was peppered with curse words. I’d never heard my mom swear before that. Fortunately, the effect wore off once she was out of that environment, like a bad smell after airing out a room.

It matters a great deal who and what I allow into my ears, my head, and my heart. Who am I listening to regularly? If I watch a lot of TV shows with vulgar speech and angry, malicious behavior, my heart will be filled with bile and ugliness. It will eventually spill out when I open my mouth, and I will infect those around me.

“No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

As a follower of Jesus, my goal is to spread love, encouragement, and joy. I don’t want to be responsible for propagating the contagion of hatred, anger, and fear. To guard against that, I must fill my ears, head, and heart with good and beautiful things. Then those things are what will spill out from me. Fortunately, good and beautiful things are just as contagious as bad and ugly things.

Dear God, help me to spread your love as I move about the world. Teach me how to fill up my heart with your beauty each day so I only infect others with grace and encouragement. Forgive me for choosing to allow anger, hatred, or vulgarity into my life, disguised as entertainment. Heal me and any whom I have infected.