Someone once said, “Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time.  You won’t have a leg to stand on.”  There have been times when I’ve said something without thinking about the consequences of those words and how they might hurt, deflate, belittle, defeat or cause another to stumble.  My tongue doesn’t always follow the directions of my brain and it seems to take on a life of its own.

Words like toxic, venomous, hateful, bullying seem to be flying around like a murder of crows within our own country in attempt to prove something. When we can’t hold our tongue, we might be considered malicious, thoughtless or disrespectful. There are so many times in my life that I wish I had kept my mouth shut, but there are also times when things need to be said and I have to reprimand myself there too because I don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings – I don’t want to be accused of being rude – I’m afraid of offending someone.

The tongue is a tiny muscle that can be more powerful than a well-developed bicep and yet it can do more harm.  Life would be so much easier if we had a script to follow, but part of who we are is our ability to communicate in an improvisational and spontaneous way.  Unfortunately, we can’t take words back once they’ve been spoken.  The damage is already done.  Admitting that we’ve spoken wrongly can do some good, but the sting of the tongue bites deeply and the words will linger.

Lord, my words can be a result of my sinful behavior.  When I am tempted to say or think things that might hurt another, I need to be reminded that I cannot even speak without Your intervention.  Keep my tongue bridled and may I use it only to Your glory and honor.  Help me to think before I speak and never to use my words to hurt another.  Give me the strength through Your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN!

James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”