Chris' Christian Blog

The Tongue

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The Blog City prompt for March 7, 2017 is "“When your rage is choking you, it is best to say nothing.” Octavia E. Butler, Fledgling. Agree or disagree? How do you handle your rage?"

One of the most astute things I have ever heard or read was on a poster in a church where I had gone to attend a conference. It said "It is easier to leave words unspoken than ti mend the heart those words have broken."

I can't tell you who may have penned those words. All I can say for sure is that I have found those words to be true. Proverbs 18: 21 says the tongue has the pDo youower of life and death. It can build a person up or it can destroy them. I think I would rather be guilty of making somebody smile with my tongue than tearing them down. Does this mean I have to be a rug and allow people to walk all over me? Absolutely not! Doing so is not a good proposition for them or for me. What it does mean is that I hold my tongue in check and say the next right thing for the next right reason. I must ask myself before I speak "What do I hope to accomplish by what I'm about to say? What are the possible outcomes? Would I want somebody to say it to me? Is it deserved or truthful?

Those are the litmus test for words. Do I accomplish that every time I speak. No, unfortunately I do not. I often fall short but that is usually my goal.