"When I was a small boy in the first grade, I experienced what I thought was a rather tough day at school. I came home, walked in the house, threw my book on the kitchen table, and let forth an expletive that included the name of the Lord.
My mother was shocked. She told me quietly, but firmly, how wrong
I was. She told me that I could not have words of that kind coming
out of my mouth. She led me by the hand into the bathroom, where
she took from the shelf a clean washcloth, put it under the faucet, and
then generously coated it with soap. She said, "We'll have to wash
out your mouth." She told me to
open it, and I did so reluctantly.
Then she rubbed the soapy washcloth around my tongue and teeth. I
sputtered and fumed and felt like swearing again, but I didn't. I
rinsed and rinsed my mouth, but it was a long while before the soapy taste
was gone. In fact, whenever I think of that experience, I can still
taste the soap.
The lesson was worthwhile. I think I can say that I have tried to avoid using the name of the Lord in vain since that day. I am grateful for that lesson."
----------------------------------------------