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"The power of life and death are in the tongue." These words, which are found in the Holy Bible are some of the truest and most alarming that we can hear and take heed to. If only we fully understood the impact our words can have on others, we may be slower to speak and quicker to bite our tongues. The power that we all hold is either a tool for building up or a weapon for tearing down, but so often we don't think about the effect we are having on another person's life.

There are many who are quick to anger, having little patience for what they deem ignorance or foolishness. When a child makes a mistake, how many parents jump at the chance to begin to chip away at their innocent little spirits rather than taking a deep breath and thinking about what they are going to say before they begin to say it? This is a sure way to raise up future adults who suffer the consequences of low self-esteem and possibly suppressed anger.

If only as parents especially, we would use some discretion in the words that we speak into the lives of our little ones, imagine what a better future this world would have. Children are just starting out, they are beginners in the game of life. Unfortunately, there is no trial run. They are going to make mistakes. They are going to have errors in judgment, but there is no need for them to hear unkind words when they do. Most of the time, a mistake will have its own set of consequences that they can learn important lessons from. They may need to receive loving discipline for their own benefit, but that should never be coupled with name calling or insults to their intelligence.

Husbands and wives are also especially prone to using words that hurt one another. There's an argument because one or both parties have been offended by an action of the other and soon, the offenses begin to pile up as harsh words are exchanged back and forth. They stab at one another, creating wounds that will last a lifetime. You may be able to repair an action that has been taken, but words can never be taken back and the most painful will never be forgotten. They will twist and turn like a knife, systematically wreaking havoc on the relationship.

Other relationships between extended family and friends can also be affected by words, but none so much as the words of those that share our daily lives and our homes. These are the most important people to us and as such, what they think of us and how they perceive us is also more important than the opinions of other people. We must be diligent in watching how we speak to one another. Our words should speak life, not death, and if they can't, it is better that we not speak anything at all.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Tiegert.
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