The Power of the Tongue

Goodness time has lapsed since my last posting! Much has happened over these last few days. The lack of civil discourse in this country over the last few years hit the final nail in the preverbal coffin Saturday, leaving six dead in Arizona. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, among those shot, is showing miraculous progress. This tragedy has has invariably sparked conversation about the often viral rhetoric filling the airways from both sides of the isle  The words we speak, while they are so easy to articulate can have damning consequences. In this particular season of my life, I am reminded of this and it challenges me to be a constant guardian of my tongue. Without doubt, at times I am tempted beyond measure not to show restraint and self control over the words I speak. With age, I am realizing it is absolutely necessary to this, because once words are said it is impossible to take them back. Of course once we realize the err of our ways we can apologize for those words, but the damage and hurt will linger. When I experience the temptation to unleash hurtful words, I look to the scriptures for some practical advice to apply. The book of Proverbs makes a powerful statement about words and their ability to define our actions and circumstances." Death and life are in the power of the tongue." ~ Proverbs 18:21. James goes further in the New Testament. He gives a powerful inditement to Christians when he says " Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein of their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless." ~ James 1:26 NIV.  I encourage anyone who like I struggles to guard the tongue, to read further into the book of James. I have found his words to be instructive and applicable to this current season. Bottom line : Our tongues have the ability to be a force for good or a force of destruction. Moving forward after the horrific events of Arizona, it is my hope that we take the time to reflect on the words we use. Instead of finger pointing and blaming others let us start with the person in the mirror. Change begins within ourselves.