James 5:12 - Needle in my eye

"Cross my heart," is a common phrase kids will use, trying to assure their peers that they are telling the truth. They may even make a motion of crossing their heart.

The fuller version I recall was,
"Cross my heart, hope to die; Stick a needle in my eye!
It's rather gruesome imagery for children!

More religiously inclined kids would just say, "I swear on a stack of Bibles!"

Adults who don't want to swear on a stack of Bibles may say, "I swear to God!"
Or they simply add an earnest look and increased volume: "I SWEAR..."

But we read in James' letter:
"But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment." (James 5:12, New American Standard Bible, 1995)

Our Father, You  see us when no one is looking. Guard our character so that we don't need to invoke needles in our eye or even a deity in heaven. Grant that we take our words seriously so that everyone else does, too. In Jesus' name, Amen.