"Words"

Whoopi-ty-aye-yah,

I think it’s safe to say,

I heard Gene Autry say it,

So it must be okay.

Back when just a youngster,

I heard Gene Autry sing,

And all the words of his old songs,

I remember everything.

Time has passed,

And words have changed,

From when Gene Autry,

Rode the range.

I rarely do regret them,

The words I do not say,

Though in my mind think loudly,

Not speaking seems okay.

‘Cause often what I’m thinking,

Not good for kids to hear,

Or really even older folks,

I want to make it clear.

That even after knowing,

Jesus a long time,

Things sometimes get the best of me,

And I will loud opine.

I need to keep my mouth shut,

It’s better if I do,

‘Cause with my words unruly,

Does lots of harm it’s true.

The Good Book warns about it,

Says it’s not right to bless,

Then turn around and curse ‘em

When you’re put to the test.

Like a water fountain,

That flows first bitter, sweet,

Or a fig tree bearing olives,

It just ought not to be.

The tongue if we control it,

Turns out to be a key,

To get a grip on our lives,

And what they ought to see.

Like a good bit in a horse’s mouth,

Or a rudder on a ship,

It’s small but it controls a lot,

Only God helps to tame it.

Whoopi-ty-aye-yah,

I think it’s safe to say,

I heard Gene Autry say it,

So these words are okay.

“…if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way…” (James 3:2, NLT)

This is a bold claim. Having our tongues under control helps us control everything. Of course, many times control is just an illusion. God is really in control, so this is ultimately what James is talking about. He’s talking about letting God’s Spirit help you control what we say and do. The writer of Proverbs says the tongue has the power of life or death. What we habitually speak definitely impacts how we experience life. What if they could bottle every word we spoke in a day, and that night, pour the contents of the bottle over our head? Would our words cleanse us or make us dirty? Would they heal or hurt us? It’s a question to consider, both for ourselves and those we speak to.

Lord, take control of our words and our lives, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Dane, dondane.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.