Years and years ago Howdy and I would have a discussion. Well, it was a heated discussion, ok, it was an argument. It was not a knock down, drag out type of argument. It was a “war of words.” Howdy would always win, he was so good with words. I usually ended up crying, running from the room, going into the kitchen and slamming a kitchen cabinet door Did my pride want to win, was I willing to keep silent. No, not me, I had to have my say and by darn, he needed to listen to me, now that is pride.
Words would be thrown into the air, landing we knew not where. Words hurt, they stung, they wounded and they cut to the core of our being. Once they were out of our mouths, we were sorry, but, we could not bring them back. We could not grab them out of the air and re-eat them. Most times all we could say was, “I’m sorry, please forgive me.” Oh, yes there was forgiveness but the words still hurt and sometimes they wounded to the marrow of bone. We say we forgive but we don’t forget. Well, I’m saying that maybe we should think before we speak. During this entire election season I have myself said things that I wished I’d not said. Oh, Lord help me to think before I speak.
Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
And then James 3: 9 & 10 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
I’m sorry, I’m just as guilty as the next man or woman. I want to give encouragement to men and women. I want to be one who builds people up not tear them down. Do I tear them down to make myself more important or do I lift them up to encourage them to do better. I want to say, “you are loved, your the best one, you stand tall because the Lord uses you to bless others, your made in the image and likeness of God therefore you are a blessed child. I want to say, ” you did a good job, you did that so well, I can learn from you, oh, how can I help you to help others.”
The tongue is such a small part of such a larger body, but it can do such harm. Lord help us all to stop and think before we throw out words that will hurt others. We have two eyes to see more, two ears to listen more but one mouth to say less. God grant us the wisdom to know when to keep quiet.
More later.
October 21, 2016 at 11:48 am
Right on. I just messed up last Sunday.
Such a learning experience of how much it must grieve the Holy Spirit.