“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” — James 3:8 NIV

Many years ago I was a chaplain in the emergency department when the ambulance brought in a man who was still receiving CPR. The doctor called the time of death shortly after. When the family arrived I got the background story. The patient was in his late 40’s and his 17-year old daughter was being dropped off at the house by her boyfriend, whom dad did not approve of. Dad came out of the house and confronted his daughter and they began shouting at each other.

Just before the daughter walked back into the house she yelled at her dad, “I don’t ever want to talk to you again.” Dad, who was left standing outside, suddenly dropped to the ground with a massive heart attack and died. Needless to say, the daughter was more than hysterical and blaming her own words for her dad’s death.

Words can hurt the one they are aimed at and the one who speaks them when they come back in regret or remorse. A perfectly targeted word can hit deep at another person’s psyche when we want it to. However, words can also heal and comfort another when we intend them to do just that. Let’s skip the regrets and use our words to encourage others.