Yesterday, I was told by a very close friend that my words had deeply wounded her. Ugh. This is not the first time I’ve heard this.
I am apparently good at cross words. Not crosswords (the puzzles), but cross words, using words as weapons. When you’re told that you have an offending behavior more than a few times, by more than one person, then you know you have a problem.
James, in the 3rd chapter, talks about taming the tongue.
Verse 3:8 — “…but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (9) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. (10) Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
There is so much in the Bible about guarding against a lying tongue, a deceiving tongue, a wicked tongue, but also Pr 10:19 “…he who holds his tongue is wise,” and Pr 12:18 “…the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
My tongue betrays my ignorance, and certainly brings no healing. I am ashamed of it, frustrated by it. I want to either “cut off the offending body part” or take a vow of silence. It is my albatross.
Sometimes the people closest to me must get their kindness from strangers, because they don’t get it from me. Despite my repeated, almost constant praying about this, I remain critical and judgmental.
In my attempt to be more honest in my verbal communications, I have somehow overshot the mark.
Why can’t I get this right?
3 responses so far ↓
heaintthroughwithmeyet // March 10, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Hi Catherine, I dont want to say ” what a wonderful post” but it is, because we all deal with things we shouldnt do. You , me, anyone who reads your post will know of one or more things that they should get in check. I for myself will pray for you! I had a problem with my tongue as well, so much so, that I had a stupid argument with my pastor and his wife of all people.
But I apologized and I tried to do better. And I do take the Bible very seriously on this..somewhere it says ” that the tongue can be the most evil thing we have”…dont ask me where I read it in the Word but it is in there. Just pray that God gives you the Grace to get your little evil thing quiet!
Love YA
In Christ
Andrea
cumby // March 10, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Confession followed by repentance leads to freedom. It sounds like you’re well on the way.
dancingboysmom // March 14, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I don’t know why you can’t get it right, but when you do, let me know the secret. *sigh*