credit: Michelle Meiklejohn
Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
They seem so unimportant sometimes until I see the look on the face of the one who hears them, these words that flow out of my mouth.
And when they bring a look of happiness I am glad that I was able to brighten the day for someone. But, oh, when I see a look of hurt and realize that my words caused the pain, I am sorry. And I resolve to better control my tongue. It's a learning process, and it seems I keep having to learn some of the same lessons over again.
Here are a few verses to help me as I learn to use my words for expressing love and encouragement instead of causing pain and tearing down.
Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ~ Proverbs 12:18
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ~ James
The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. ~ Proverbs 16:21
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ~ Proverbs 16:24
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is eventempered. ~ Proverbs 17:27
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ~ James 1:26
Yes, such a small part of our body, yet has do much potential. The potential to destroy, the potential to build up. And even though it is so small, it is so very difficult to contain.
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