Day 34

The Taming of The Tongue

 

"But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

 

James 3:8

 

 

In the novel Love Story, the author has one of his main characters say, "Love means never having to say you are sorry." Eric Segal should apologize for writing something so stupid. I have found (as most sane people have) that love means that you have to say your sorry on numerous occasions.

 

I know because I was apologizing while still on my honeymoon. Apparently, "You look good in the dark" does not mean the same thing as, "You look lovely this evening." And apparently it is not a good thing to say on your wedding night. And yes, I really said, "You look good in the dark." Technically and grammatically looking good in the dark and looking lovely this evening mean about the same thing but somehow they don't have the same emotional impact.

 

So, I apologized. It was the first of many apologies. I am capable of saying clever, cruel and just plain stupid things. I learned, when I was in Jr. High and the smallest kid in the school, that my mouth was my best defensive weapon. It was also, often times, the reason I needed to defend myself.

 

I had not intended to offend my wife of a few hours but I had. Words can cut and infect a heart and poison relationships. Because our words can do so much damage we must be careful how we use them. James says, "No man can tame the tongue." That is why we need supernatural help. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit that dwells in us to help us do the things we cannot.

 

One other thing: "You asphyxiate me" and "you take my breath away" do not count as the same thing either.

 

Upon Further Review:

 

Read James 3:1-12

 

• What objects does James compare the tongue to?
• Though the tongue is a "restless evil" can it be used to do good?
• Where do the words our tongues speak flow from?