The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. – James 3:5

Aristotle said that one ill gotten word is like a stone thrust from your hand. You can’t get it back, even though it hasn’t struck yet. Words are powerful. Do you want to control your life? Do you feel like your life is out of control? Do you feel like everything is chaotic in your life? It’s probably because of the stuff you say. If your life is out of control, get your speech under control. You’re probably out of control because you said yes to something you should have said no to. Or maybe you said no to something you should have said yes to. Or maybe you just were telling it like it is. The words that you’ve said to your children, to your parents, to your friends, to your colleagues, and even to your enemies will never be forgotten. The words you speak will remain in the person, the object of your words, forever. Make your words count.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to control my words and to make them count today. Amen.

REFLECTION: What do my words do to my life and to those around me?