Taming the Tongue
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
(Proverbs 15:4 ESV)
I don’t like conflicts. I try to be as gentle to people as I can, even when I don’t agree with them. But what do I do with people are constant rude and always say unkind things. Well, I tell you what I did this week; I told the person not to be always so nasty, in a gentle way of course.
Sometimes I wonder when people always say hurtful things if they are hurting. I understand that some people try to be funny, but often it does not come across as funny; well at least not to me.
My dad always taught us that if we can’t say something nice, we not to say anything. I really try to live by that rule.
The Bible is pretty clear about our speech as well. James, the brother of Jesus, had to say a lot about the tongue in James 3. Although James was talking about teachers, I think that we can take his advice to heart on a day-to-day dealing with others.
“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
(James 3:7-10 ESV)
My sweet sisters in Christ, let us than speak well to and of others. We can be an example in this darkened world, to show how to be gentle to each other.
Lord of mercy and grace. Help us to tame our tongue as we are dealing with rude people in our lives. May we speak kind words with the same tongue that blessed You, Heavenly Father. Help us to speak life and not perverseness. We are trusting in Your guidance. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen!
Bless you dear friend.
That makes me think of the rabbit Thumper in the movie Bambi….if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.
Good post! Thank you!
Great words of wisdom Iris.