Communication

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Be careful of the stones that you throw
By Dan Langerock

We were horrified recently when wildfires destroyed so many homes in Southern California. Many of us had loved ones and friends who were affected by this terrible onslaught of fires. Some of us may have given toward helping those in need during this time. When the word “fire” is mentioned, it sends shivers up our spines.

Yet, when it comes to talking about others, we are not careful what we say or think about the consequences of our words. We speak with abandon, sometimes, without knowing all the facts. Everyone falls into this trap from time to time—it can be very embarrassing and humbling to have to ask forgiveness when this happens.

Here is a poem that talks about this problem, that will hopefully help us think before we speak:

Be Careful of Stones

The tongue is destructive.
Bad seeds it can sow.
With each angry word spoken,
It causes malice to grow.

Like a two-edged sword,
It cuts just like a knife;
Deeper and deeper,
Causing trouble and strife.

So, be careful of stones
That you throw.
They can damage the heart
And pierce the soul.

And, unless you've made
No mistakes in your life,
Before you cast that first stone,
I believe I'd think twice.

There was a bad woman
Who lived in our neighborhood.
Sharp tongues kept on wagging,
Saying she was no good.

But, she ended up saving
A little girl, don't you know?
So, be careful when you're talking.
Watch the stones that you throw.

This very same woman who,
Pushed the child from harms way,
Ended up losing
Her own life that day.

So, remember this story
And tell the people you know,
Don't judge a book by its cover
And watch the stones that you throw.

Author Unknown


The Bible also compares the tongue to a uncontrollable fire. Just think back over your life to all the messes your tongue got you into, and you will see what I mean. One thing we can do is to think of a wildfire destroying everything in its path, when we start to say something about someone. A reputation is almost impossible to fix when words are carelessly spoken. As you know, this type of verbage spreads a lot faster than good news.

Think about the consequences of what you say. It is better to say less than to say more and regret it. Idle time is one of the biggest culprits in this area, because we often don’t have enough to say, we think, and then we start talking about the wrong things. Pray about what you say beforehand, let the Holy Spirit filter your conversation, and what you hear. You will circumvent a lot of trouble by doing this.

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