The Weight of 16,000 Words

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I saw a study that said that the average person says about 16,000 words per day. Think about it. Literally thousands of words roll off our tongues daily. Shouldn’t that cause us to pause and take stock of what we’re saying?

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things (Proverbs 15:28).

My friend does this: I ask him a question or make a random comment, and he hesitates for a moment, then speaks. He is a man of exceptional character, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s pausing to weigh his words.

Helpful words

My nine-year-old grandson overheard his mom commenting to his dad about how fast his brain works. He was learning states and capitals at a rapid pace. My grandson went to his mom later and said, “Thank you for the compliment, Mom.” That’s a simple example of the value a child puts on words that build up.

Years ago, I saw a man I had worked for at a radio station in Grenada, Mississippi, back in the 70s. In the conversation, he said, “I always knew you were a good radio guy.” It was just an off-the-cuff comment, but it meant the world to me for him to say that.

All of these helpful instances got me thinking, how would things be different if more of us placed a higher value on the words we use?

An artist is careful with each brushstroke, and we should approach our conversation with the same caution. We should be on guard to ensure we represent Christ well when we speak.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door my lips (Psalm 141:3).

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