Words

We start out…oh so innocently.
First words upon our tongue.
Da-Da; Ma-Ma; juice, and ball.
Vocabulary still so young.

We grow up…talk in sentences.
Two words, then three, then four.
Our thoughts have found their outlet.
The key unlocked the door.

We can tell of scary dreams at night.
Or books that we have read.
We can tell a joke or tell a tale.
Share thoughts inside our head.

They call it conversation.
An exchange between the two.
Volleying like a tennis ball.
I go first…then you.

But sometimes when it’s volleyed,
The ball stays on one side.
The other will not volley back.
In their silence they will hide.

It’s not a good place…silence,
When the other needs to know
What you think, or what you feel,
Are you friend or foe?

Sometimes words just go too far.
They cut you to the quick.
They hurt you and confuse you.
They make you feel half sick.

Once the words are spoken,
You cannot take them back.
You cannot pack them all away,
And put them in your pack.

You cannot tame that little tongue,
The rudder of your ship.
The part that praises Him so fine.
With words upon your lip.

Where is that place inside the heart,
From which all words will flow?
Where do all the mean ones dwell?
Where do unkind ones go?

Conversation, seasoned with salt,
Always full of grace.
Words spoken too hastily,
Are so hard to erase.

Word that build each other up,
Encouraging all who hear.
Words you tuck inside you heart,
And carry through the year.

Words that please the Father,
Who gave us His Word to say.
Jesus…the living Word of God.
The Truth, the Life, the Way.

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I made a mistake this weekend.
I hurt someone…unintentionally…with my words.
Words that were asked of me.
Words that took the inch and went the mile.

Why do we always hurt people we care about?
Why do we say things that are good and true…yet right on their coattails…ugliness?

We start out with the best intentions.
We speak into a life…when asked…and offer much wisdom.
However, we gain some twisted momentum and go downhill quicker than a bobsled.

At the time, we think we are right.
We discern no hurt feelings.
We discern only understanding.

Much later, we learn how our words have hurt.
They crossed a line.
With all the right intentions…we stepped over…without a safety net.

But no man can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
(James 3:8-10)

I am amazed at how God teaches me what He wants me to know.
During my quiet time, God’s Word will speak right to my heart.
The sermon at church will be about the issue as well.
It’s as if the pastor viewed the movie of my life, and prepared his sermon accordingly.

For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
(Hebrews 5:12, 13)

I appreciate God’s grace.
I must also remember it.
I must extend the grace that has been extended to me.
I will forget…or ego will get in the way.
Sin and self-righteousness will rear their ugly heads.

God has a tender way of bringing me back.
God knows my heart.
Not lost…but sidetracked.
I am learning to accept the pain of the detour…and see the beauty on this new road.

I would not have scripted this particular scenario, had I been writing the play of my life.
The Director is pleased, I think.
Asking forgiveness in humility…before the offended person…before my Lord.
In both cases, forgiveness has been granted.

Everything is fine between us…beauty out of the ashes.
Forgiveness…twice as strong with the mending.

I remember reading the Little House series of books to my daughters.
Laura Ingalls Wilder recounted a lesson Ma had taught her.

If Wisdom’s ways you wisely seek, five things observe with care:
Of whom you speak…to whom you speak…and how, and when, and where.