| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 20 |
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There are many rash words spoken. Persons get angry, and in anger the tongue is too often like a runaway horse. The driver has lost control; and the horse rushes along the street, perhaps trampling down women and children, perhaps dashing the vehicle to pieces, and injuring the unfortunate driver himself. A runaway tongue may do even more serious harm than a runaway horse. It may speak words which will hurt lives irreparably, and it may do incalculable injury to the speaker himself. Rash words hurt tender hearts. They alienate friends. They start suspicion concerning good people, and blast reputations. What cruel things are rash words!
How much better it would be if we all learned never to speak hastily! It were good to be slow of speech in a way; for then we would not talk rashly – we would take time to think before speaking. We were never sorry for not saying the hot word that flew to our lips when we were excited. It would have been bitter, unloving, and ungentle. It could have done no good. It would have wrought only pain and harm. It would have dishonoured our Master, for it would have been an exhibition of un-Christ likeness. Jesus never spoke a hasty word. He kept silent under insult, pain, reproach, and sorest injury – not sullen silence, but silence sweet with patient, peaceful love. WE are never sorry for following this perfect example, and restraining the cutting words. But we are sorry always when we have spoken hastily. If we had taken a little time to think, we would not have made the sharp retort which has done so much harm.
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