Careless

I communicate for a living. That’s speaking and listening. In communicating for a living I have come to realize the importance of our spoken word.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21 KJV

Words have power and they ought not be tossed around carelessly. I’m guilty of not always using my words wisely. There are times when my words have been wasted.

Last year, 2021, my kiddos and I did a year long submersion study in the book of Psalms and Proverbs. We read through the Psalms 2.5 times and Proverbs significantly more times *smile* In the reading, I learned, and learned again, a great deal concerning not only our words and what we say, but also what we don’t say.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28 KJV

See, communication is both verbal and nonverbal. Once upon a time, I would have laughed and agreed with the above image, but you know, I have really had to do my own self-reflection and ask myself: what is it that I’m actually communicating? I know what I want to communicate. I know what I want to share. I want to share the love of God. And you know what else, whatever is in our hearts will come out regardless. I think there is a quote that says something like “a little cough and a little love are not easily hidden“.. Something like that.

The book of James also teaches us about the use of our words. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6 KJV

I have to remind myself so often of the great responsibility I carry each time I open my mouth. When you consider that we truly do have the authority to tame wild animals yet, there is none that can tame the tongue.

Working at a juvenile detention center, many of the youth will self-report difficulty with self-control. This of course extends to behaviors and, you guessed it, their words, especially when they are mad. Psychology and science diagnosis this as Impulse Disorder, among other things. However, the Bible teaches us the difficulties in taming our tongues.

We must pray that God will bridle our tongues. We must place them under subjection to Him. And we must be aware of how we use our words, to ensure that we are not careless with them.

*Feature Photo is an Original Image by A.B