Much can be said of a person's character by the way they use their tongue. Jesus said that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34) According to Proverbs 18:21, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." In James 3:6, the Bible says that the tongue is "a fire, a world of iniquity", and James 3:8 calls the tongue full of "deadly poison."
As one acknowledges the above verses, we would think that our conversations would have improved through the ages but we still hear people saying injurious things about another's character, things offensive and provoking, causing quarrels, contention and distress.
Some use others as a confessional and dump personal problems at their feet. In restaurants, on the street or at parties, people are tapping at their phones like woodpecker's sending messages as if they are hypnotized. At every meeting, in every movie and at church services, they begin by reminding people to turn off their cellphones.
I go to many meetings where talkers are down right rude...talking incessantly detaining the groups overtime when their point could be succinct. Conciseness is important to remember. Listeners are more likely moved by fewer words. Some feel as if they have to fill all the dead air. Joe Jones sang - "You talk too much, you worry me to death, you talk too much, you even worry my pet, you just talk too much." An employee at Social Security would stop a long-winded talker by jesting: "Would you please hurry up, you're boring me." American cartoonist, Charles Schultz used the words, wa wa, wa wa, wa wa to describe the teacher's words in his Peanuts' cartoons. My children repeated Schultz's phrase if I became verbose reprimanding them. They made me laugh.
A 94-year-old woman revealed that a man in her building begins every sentence with "I." When she sees him, she hides. Every morning ROMEO's (retired old men eating out) meet and discuss their opinions and perceptions of happenings. One man ended a session by repeating Earl F. Landgrebe's quote from the Watergate hearings, "Don't confuse me with the facts." A critical thinker checks pros and cons before time to make a decision.
Being a good conversationalist (a conversation is a talking and listening process) takes wisdom. By watching facial expressions, you'll know if they are in "La La Land" or really listening.
Our words can change the direction in a person's life. Oprah Winfrey's direction was changed by a women who told her as a child, "Oprah, you are as pretty as can be!" Charles Stanley was a lonely little school boy who came home everyday to an empty house because his mother worked. His life became happier when a school teacher mentioned to another teacher as he passed, "I like that Charles. He is a nice boy." Our words have creative power or can tear people down. Chose words to bless; plant a seed of greatness in someone. Be mindful when you talk.
