DID any of my little readers ever hear children quarreling? Likely you all have, and perhaps you have quarreled yourselves. Do you think God likes to hear those unkind, angry words? No, dear children, He does not, and I want to tell you today what He says about it.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:11A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1).) When your little friend, perhaps a brother or sister, does or says something that displeases you, there are two ways you may answer if you give a soft answer it will make things all right. But if you show your displeasure and speak unkindly, it makes your friend angry.
Or if your playmates are quarreling and you come to them with kind words, it may turn away their wrath or anger. While if you join in the quarrel it only makes matters worse.
A verse in Matthew 5, says, “Blessed are the peace-makers,” and it is by giving a soft answer that you can be a peace-maker.
Another verse, Proverbs 16:2424Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24), says: “Pleasant words are, as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul.” We like to hear pleasant words; but angry words make us uncomfortable and unhappy, whether we speak them ourselves or hear them spoken by others.
We cannot be too careful about our words. The soft answers we give may hinder a great deal of sorrow and pain, —and our pleasant words may give a great deal of happiness.
Let us not, then, allow any angry words to pass from our lips, for they can only cause sorrow to ourselves and others. Jesus is our pattern, and His words were gentle, kind and forgiving.
ML 07/05/1903