Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Prov 18:21)
"A man may do a great deal of good, or a great deal of hurt, both to others and to himself, according to the use he makes of his tongue.Many a one has been his own death by a foul tongue, or the death of others by a false tongue; and, on the contrary, many a one has saved his own life, or procured the comfort of it, by a prudent gentle tongue, and saved the lives of others by a seasonable testimony or intercession for them. And, if by our words we must be justified or condemned, death and life are, no doubt, in the power of the tongue." (Matthew Henry).
Many of us are guilty of one or two of these - some are guilty of all. It is very rare to find someone has not indulged in any. I had the privilege of knowing a woman whose attitude, whose demeanor, whose undiminished loved for others, reached out to those around her and left an indelible mark so subtile, that she will not be forgotten any time soon. Diagnosed with cancer four months ago, she perservered and held out, all while comforting those around her, choosing to leave this earth on God's terms. He blessed her with a loving family - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Anyone who met her was immediately welcomed and accepted, loved and included. She taught her daughters how to be good mothers, she taught her grandchildren the meaning of family, she gave her great-grandchildren a wonderful legacy of love. These attributes will live on long after they say their final goodbye to her.
I'd like to take a lesson from the life and death of Sally Moore - to live and to walk with God each step of the way, to trust in Him for all things and to cherish His many blessings regardless of the storms that bring them. What you say, what you don't say, how you say it and the impact it has on those around you are often the most important lessons you can teach someone. The respect you have for others reflects the respect you have for yourself.
Know that God's plan for you may not be the one your family would like, but it is the one He has chosen for you. Accept His plan without question. Adhere to His teachings without shortcuts. The banquet that is prepared for you IS yours! No one else can or will answer on your behalf. Ask forgiveness for all of your shortcomings now. Make a conscious effort to lead a life that is pleasing to the Father; help others to learn from your mistakes; and above all, praise Him for all He has so graciously blessed you with!!!
