Choosing Our Words Wisely

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I remember there was a boy at school that would love to play tricks on people but sometimes he went too far or he did it so often that it was not a joke anymore. It hurt.

I was not one of his targets, but I saw how “his jokes” affected people and often thought that a joke must be truly funny and not at the expense of someone’s feelings.

Maybe that’s why when I listen to comedians I stop listening if they “are not funny.”

In Proverbs it says:

Anyone who would trick someone and then say, “I was only joking” is like a fool who shoots flaming arrows into the air and accidentally kills someone.

Proverbs 26:18-19 ERV

Or another version of the Bible says:

Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,
so is one who deceives a neighbour
    and says, ‘I am only joking!’

Proverbs 26:18-19 NRSV

We all love a good laugh but never at the expense of people.

Our feelings can get so easily hurt by words, by actions of others. Do we, though, think the same. We could be hurting someone by what we say, how we say it ???????

There truly is life or death in the power of the tongue.

Do you watch what you say or allow anything to flow out of your mouth?

Do you measure your words before releasing them?

We try and teach our children this, but do we listen to this for ourselves?

Where can you choose your words wisely to prevent someone from getting hurt?

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love


Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Do you watch what you say or allow anything to flow out of your mouth?

What do you find difficult about controlling your tongue?

Where can you choose your words wisely to prevent someone from getting hurt?

5 Comments

  • Valerie Lack

    February 11, 2026 at 10:45 am

    Yes to the first question, because I know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of one of those jokes.
    Thinking before saying
    Making a conscious decision, about whether what I am about to say will cause harm
    Having said that. I am sure that there many occasions when I have inadvertently hurt others
    ,

  • Valerie Simms

    February 11, 2026 at 11:07 am

    YES I agree with you Rosemary!!! There are times when offended we want to retaliate but does it solve the problem??? I recall what a priest said to me, pray ” Father forgive….for they know not what they do”. There are times when I am silent and shut my ears because I feel I may say what will cause arguments. This will make the situation worse… Especially when anger appears within. Yes we are human and we have feelings BUT those feelings can bring up disaster!!! It is good for me to pray to our Good Lord God and listen to His Word He has to say to me rather than take revenge…Thank Rosemary for reminding me…
    In Christ’s Love
    Valerie

    • Di

      February 11, 2026 at 12:44 pm

      Thanks Rosemary. I love your insight into what can be so hurtful.
      Oh, how I wish I could get my husband and 3 sons to understand how their “I was only joking” response has hurt. I will go so far as to say their “joke” has contributed to the demise of middle son’s marriage. I’ve been told to back off, “it’s only a joke” more times than I can count and even had to console the butt of the “joke”. I know it is because they are shy and despite being grown adults it has become a way of communication to cover their insecurity. I’ll keep trying to reverse their habit by risking being told “it’s only a joke”, by example, support to the offended and prayer. God bless.

  • Valerie Simms

    February 11, 2026 at 11:09 am

    YES I agree with you Rosemary!!! There are times when offended we want to retaliate but does it solve the problem??? I recall what a priest said to me, pray ” Father forgive….for they know not what they do”. There are times when I am silent and shut my ears because I feel I may say what will cause arguments. This will make the situation worse… Especially when anger appears within. Yes we are human and we have feelings BUT those feelings can bring up disaster!!! It is good for me to pray to our Good Lord God and listen to His Word He has to say to me rather than take revenge…Thank you Rosemary for reminding me…
    In Christ’s Love
    Valerie