“So, what is your usual pattern of speech? Better put, what comes out of your mouth in your normal day?”
Shakespeare, in King Lear, prized this in Cordelia when he wrote, “Her voice was ever soft, gentle, and low, an excellent thing in women,”
My sainted mother never raised her voice, and we listened when she spoke, straining to get the message, because it was usually for our benefit.
You’ve noticed that too, haven’t you? You listen to the person who speaks words slowly, softly, and carefully, because you know they are worth listening to.
And in our world with its many stresses it can be easy for us to become irritable and short with friends and those closest to us, family. We pick at minor anoyances and little habits and blurt out harmful, unkind words, without thinking.
Just listen to a debate on TV sometime, each out-shouting the other, and nobody going away with mind changed.
The Book of Proverbs has this advice.
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul
From trouble.” Proverbs 21,23.
Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was a man with a giant legal mid, but of rather short stature. So one day when he attended some event, he was the shortest person in that gathering. So one of his friends twitted him. “Holmes, how do you feel here in this gathering.”
Justice Holmes, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “I feel like a newly minted dime among lots of pennies.”
So, what is your usual pattern? Do you speak mildly, pleasantly, with words that smooth and soothe and calm, or is your pattern hard, harsh, scornful and bitter, causing anger and tension?
Two more words from Proverbs.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” 18,12
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the
Soul and health to the bones,.” 16,24.
I pray you are one people gladly listen to because they are challenged, enlightened, and helped and blessed by your quiet speech.
GPD 2/5/13
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