The Power of Life & Death

By: Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp., & Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation

I came home late one evening from a business trip and was met at the door by my wife informing me we had a most special houseguest. My 11-year-old granddaughter, Maddy, did not have school the following day and had asked to come spend the night with Grandma & Grandpa.

After putting away my luggage and gathering a snack I came into the family room where the two girls were wrapped up in blankets; my wife watching Fox News and my granddaughter looking through a book.

I took a seat in my chair and became engrossed in the TV news reporting and bantering with my wife about the day’s further cultural decline and chaos.

At this point one can easily envision the beauty and serenity of the moment. It had the feel of a Norman Rockwell painting in the 21st century. However, suddenly and unexpectedly this peaceful evening was destroyed by a sudden and violent burst of air.

This unexpected eruption was the loud sound of a vulgar comment that came flying out of my mouth. I had become angry with the TV as I vociferously disagreed with the statements being made by one of the two individuals being interviewed.

When I came back to my senses even I was somewhat surprised at my response. My self-evaluation was quickly cut short as my wife laid into me. “What are you doing??!! What is wrong with you??!! You have a granddaughter sitting over here!!”

Call it a senior moment or whatever… I had absolutely forgotten that my granddaughter was in the room. Additionally, I was embarrassed and concerned that all of my mentoring and attempt at being a living example of right and wrong had been decimated in less time than one can say a couple of words.

I at least had the presence of mind to ask my granddaughter for forgiveness and tell her that what I said was not only wrong, but also unacceptable.

About an hour later it was time for Maddy to go to bed and she came by to give me a hug. I again told her that what Grandpa had said was absolutely wrong and inappropriate. Maddy gave me a big smile and said… “It’s OK Grandpa, I really did not hear what you said.”

I so hoped that what she was telling me was true. It caused me to reflect on the power of words and how they can destroy or how they can heal. My unexpected outburst had the potential to not only ruin my “grandpa” credibility, but to set a wrong example.

My time of self-reflection also reminded me of a parable that I had heard years ago about a man in a small village who had said some rough things about a local resident. Things that were not true and certainly were damaging.

Over time his comments were rapidly shared from one person to another in this small village. In almost no time the disturbing words reached the ear of the one who was slandered.

The man was dismayed at what he had done and went to the village wise man to seek council and advice. The wise man’s instructions were somewhat unusual as he told the man to take a bag of feathers and lay one on each doorstep of each individual in the village.

The man did as he was told and returned to the wise man. “Now… tomorrow go back and retrieve the individual feathers and bring them back to me.” The following day the man returned to the wise man and reported that he was unable to find any feathers. The wind had blown them all away.

“So it is with careless words my son,” stated the wise man. “Once spoken they cannot be taken back. You may ask for forgiveness but the words themselves have caused the damage… which is hard or impossible to undo.”

The Bible has a lot to say regarding words, speech, and the power of the tongue. Here are a few for your perusal

Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue…

James 3:8-10, (ESV) … but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ephesians 4:29, (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 12:18, (ESV) There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.