“Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.”
You’d have to be living in a cave to not have heard of John Travolta’s mangling of Idina Menzel’s name during his introduction of her on Sunday night’s Oscar telecast.  By most accounts, it seemed it was an honest mistake, but when on the biggest stage, an honest mistake can turn into a major gaff and news story.  Of course, we learn once again about the power of social media when the next day on Facebook an app appears where you can put in your own name and out spits how Travolta would say it.  My name would be “Ramsey Reez”. One mistake and we can have our name, company name, or brand forever associated with the error.  When in time has it ever been more important to be really careful out there?

Earlier this week I wrote of the power of the slip of the tongue.  Today only reinforces that same message, but not just in the bad words that we may use, but also in the care with which we speak. The truth, the careful examination of the words we choose to criticize, and even the times when we need to remember someone’s name, can all be moments of powerful reinforcement of how we have chosen to live and act, or a disappointment to the One who asks us to live for Him.  Let us today, be in control of what we say.

Reference:  Psalm 64:8 (New Living Translation)