Daily Proverb - Proverbs, Chapter 15

"A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Wise words, aren't they?  Have you ever noticed those people who seem to have the gift of staying calm in every situation?  You think, wow, wish I had that gift!  They answer an angry person with a quiet and peaceful response and we think, wow, that was good, I would have freaked out.  And after a few minutes, you begin to see the angry person start to calm down.  Now think of what would have happened if both parties were expressing anger with rage.  A loose tongue firing nasty remarks and another loose tongue firing back.  One thing leads to another, but nothing gets resolved!  Can you see how true this verse is?  A gentle answer will turn away wrath, but if you insist on lashing out at someone who is angry, you will only stir up anger!  Be gentle and turn away wrath!

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

It is interesting, all the verses concerning the tongue!  The epistle of James has so much to say about the tongue.  Read chapter 3 when you get a chance and you will get a good lesson in the dangers of that little piece of flesh that lays inside your mouth.  The tongue can be used to refresh others, or it can be used to cause grief and anger.  The tongue can lift a person up or bring them way down.  We all know that yelling "fire" in a crowded building, when there is no fire, is against the law and will get you a jail sentence.  That's because many years ago, it happened in a theater and many people died trying to get out.  There was no fire, people died because a fool with one foolish word "fire".  One word can hurt and it can also do great things, but remember, the man who tames his tongue is the perfect man.  It won't be easy, but it is worth working at!  Think about your words and remember, we are just human and we do fail.  Start making an effort by asking God to help you with that dangerous piece of flesh, your tongue.