Shade Tree Wisdom 3/8/08

The walking was – what is the word here? Breezy, no bitter, harsh, brisk, wintry, bone-chilling, cold, frigid, arctic? Well, for this time of year, here, it was rather brisk, but refreshing. After all, it was 15 degrees in Michigan and they were having snow. And we used to live there.

Have you ever thought of the advantages we have now. No, you and I don’t have to get up in a cold house, start a fire, and then maybe crawl back under the quilt till the house warmed up. We just have to set a dial on the wall and gas comes flooding in from who knows where provided faithfully by a company we never meet and we have comfort. And we even have the advantage of not even writing a monthly check. We can arrange for this company to draw it from our bank account. One less worry and think of the saving in stamps!

But what I was getting at above is the amazing quantity in words we have of expressing some facts. I checked my Thesaurus and it offered 29 words to express the thought that it was cold!

Brings to mind the Proverb, “A word spoken at the right time is like olden apples in a silver background” 25,11. So the Bible says this about the Preacher. “The preacher tried to find delightful words, written honestly and telling the truth” Eccl.12,10.”Did his best to find the right words and tell the truth” MSG. That’s really good advice. Language does have power. It can either build up, or destroy. We in the love of God should always be looking for the right word to help another. His becomes ever more urgent when a person is really troubled or is suffering great stress under a burden we know nothing about.

So, like the preacher, let us take the trouble to say the fitting word, the word that will bring a lift to the step and a light to the eye. The word that will refresh the weary and give added strength to the burdened. Yes, a word fitting spoken is like apples in a silver frame. Speak that word, beginning with “You know of course, that Jesus Christ died for you.”

GPD 3/8/08