240606 The Word You Use

 The Words You Use

Be careful 'bout the words you use

For words can injure; words can bruise

Be careful 'bout the things you say

For hurtful words, one's soul can slay

It's not just words you use, but tone

For tone has meaning all its own

And if you've raised a teenage child

You know their tone's what drives you wild

The words you use carry such weight

To express love or start debate

For kind words can be source of life

But biting words breed only strife

A loving word makes someone's day

Like honey, are kind words you say

Yet, angry words, spoken in haste

Will only leave a bitter taste 

Don't know 'bout you, but I feel bad

If speak unkind because I'm mad

And though I'm sorry in the end

Know they can't be unheard again

Repaired relations come with price

Won't have to pay if just talked nice

The damage is already done 

Though the word battle you have won

The Word says tongue's a two edged sword 

And words once said can't be ignored

So give your words some careful thought

Speak kindness, as the Bible's taught 

A final word before I'm through

Speak only as want spoken to

I know that's easier said than done

For human tongue's a wily one

Thus, when you slip in what you say

Ask for forgiveness right away 

And don't forget to extend grace

When someone else is in your place

Ask God to give you strength to choose

Only uplifting words to use

Then you'll find often when you do

Kind words will echo back to you