Armed and Dangerous

You and I are carrying a weapon of mass destruction. Did you know you are armed and dangerous? Very dangerous, actually.

The weapon I’m talking about is our tongue. The words we say to others, and ourselves, can be used to encourage others or they may be used for harm.

What we say can reverberate for generations. Consider the quotes from history that were offered by JFK, Abraham Lincoln, Churchill and countless others. They have inspired millions for good. Those great men and their legacies are countered by Nikita Khrushchev who vowed that the communists would “bury us, and they wouldn’t have to fire a shot.” They haven’t quit trying.

God gave us free will over our words and actions. He doesn’t want us to use them to hurt others. We should offer constructive criticism in private and leave the ridicule and name calling to the low thinkers. Aim higher.

In prisons, I have met so many people who are carrying pain from the words of others, oftentimes from family members. Sadly, they believe they are worthless and don’t matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone is important. Everyone matters.

My encouragement to you (and me) is to hold our tongues as best we can. Not everything needs a response. Not everyone deserves a response…