Use your words...

Words... they are all around us... the are spoken, sung, yelled, whispered and written. They communicate what we need, or they remain unspoken. When combined, they form questions, statements, demands and much more... they form friendships, build bridges... but they can also tear them down. They can build up or destroy... and in their most basic of uses, express.
Words are formed when we mouth our lips and mouths in different movements. Vowels, consonants, diphthongs, emphasis are based on the placement of the tongue. Sometimes when we speak we choose our words to spare the feelings of those around us and other times we fly off the handle and let our tongues express what we should keep silent and in our heads.
James even writes about the tongue... a whole chapter dedicated to this small part of our bodies. We often don't think about it being a big deal... we run our mouths, sometimes letting hurtful things escape and then wonder why the people around us don't want to talk to us.
Ephesians 4:29 reminds us: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Building us others [...] that it may benifit those who listen. my sarcastic and sometimes snarky side is ashamed as I write this. I know that I am not perfect, but I can take steps to guarding others from the bile that so readily spits out around certain people. This often comes in the form of me remaining silent in their presence... as the adage goes:

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

I used to really like the movie Ella Enchanted, and I still like many of the values that it shares, in one scene Ella is told to hold her tongue... and she literally takes hold of her tongue. Those of you that know the story, know that when she was born, she was given the gift of doing what she was told by her fairy Godmother Lucinda. When her mean step sister finds out the secret, she uses this to her advantage, making Ella do exactly what she wants her to.
We all utilize the three learning styles, visual, verbal and kinesthetic... or if you're like me, you use all three... but as I watched that scene again this morning, it really drove the point home.
Instead of letting our tongue have power over us, take the time to think before you speak and if necessary, hold your tongue...
We can either use our words to encourage and build up, or we can tear down those around us until we have no one left... James tells us that our tongues weild great power, like a small spark can ignite a forest... our tongues can get us into a world of trouble. He also reminds us that out of our mouths come blessing and cursing and it should not be this way.
Use your words wisely and build up those around you.