Soothing Tongue

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4

“The tongue is the smallest muscle in your body, but it’s the most deadly.”  My mom used to say this and I never really understood what she meant until middle school when I realized that age group can be so mean to each other.  Most words out of pre-teens are hurtful, mean, sarcastic and just plain rude all in the name of fun.  Words can be hurtful, but they can also be encouraging.  Which ones roll off your tongue?  The years have come and gone, but some of those hurtful words are still with me from middle school.  I couldn’t tell you what I had for dinner last Thursday, but I remember the words and feelings I felt in the 7th grade when I was told “no one loves you” because I stood up for a friend.  Years later, as I have grown older, I can see how my own words have helped grow my children, or deeply cut them.  I wish I could say that I have always been a champion for my spouse and my kids, but I have torn them down and watched their eyes swell with tears more times than I would like due to some remark of mine.  This is something I am personally conscious of and work on intentionally although I have to tell you it is not easy.  I want my words to bring life and encouragement to people.  I desperately want to give hope and healing in times of pain and grief.  How can I show love if my tongue is a deadly weapon?  We need to be careful how we yield that fleshy sword.  I want to breathe life into situations and people who are struggling.  I want to be a positive influencer.  I want to be gentle and peace giving, even in my anger and disappointment.  I don’t want to break spirits; I want to lift them up.  I want to build people up.  Enough tearing each other down; there is already enough of that.  I want to bring truth, encouragement, hope and love.  I want to speak positively over everyone and every situation.  Let us be wise people with gentle and encouraging tongues and let us learn to bite our tongues when we feel them wanting to go rogue as deadly weapons.  Lord, help me control my tongue and let wholesome, encouraging words roll off it! ~ Amen