Article July 27, 1974 Issue

Bridling the Tongue

ALICE HOWELL RASBACH

Have we not all let slip words that we would give anything to recall, words that did not add in any way to the listener's peace of mind or to our own? Our words are but the outward expression of our thoughts. If we want our words to be more gracious and loving, we must improve our thoughts.

If our motives are good and right, our voiced thoughts will encourage and strengthen those to whom they are expressed. Isn't that better than voicing a thought with a barb or a sting in it? If we follow the latter course, we are not only troubling the thought of the person addressed but interrupting our own flow of Christlike thoughts and inviting the possibility of discord.

In the Gospel of Luke it is recorded that when Jesus stood up in the synagogue to read the Scriptures, the people "wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth." Luke 4:22; Did not his gracious words result because he imaged forth the qualities of his Father, God? Jesus gave us the standard for our words, our expressed thoughts, when he urged the Old Testament command that men should love their neighbors as themselves. We express more love to our brother man when our words are gracious and we refuse to let our tongues voice anything that would make discord seem more real to him. New Testament writers tell of the great compassion Jesus expressed toward those who reached out to him for healing. Compassion is oftentimes expressed in gracious words followed by loving deeds.

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