What is one of the most powerful attributes possessed by every child, man, and woman? Is it their physical strength; is it their mental acuity; or is it that they are in possession of countless monetary assets? The truth is quite simple: it is none of the aforementioned. For thousands of years, this one attribute is available to each person. It is an attribute that can upset the greatest of nations, the strongest person, or a child. It is not something that one buys or is given. So, what could it be?
This particular attribute is the human tongue. Maybe this attribute isn't something that you think has tremendous power or can negatively affect the strongest or the greatest of people but you would be ill-advised to ignore it. Through the tongue can come words of encouragement, words of abuse, words of anger, or words of gossip. These imprudent words spoken before thinking of their consequences can take a stellar and good person to their knees through ill-conceived and harsh words of criticism. The words chosen out of haste can serve to damage a child's personal image well into their adult years. These cold, harsh words can ruin the careers of many when they comprise lies. These untruths spoken repeatedly to anyone who will listen can spread a lie that devastates families, and a whole society. In Thorne's own words, "Think twice with careful thought,
Before we haste to speak."
On the other hand, words spoken with kindness, caring, and love can build up and encourage thousands upon thousands. Many periods in human history have been transformed through carefully chosen words like those uttered by Winston Churchill during World War II, or words chosen to represent the freedoms and responsibilities of a new nation as written in the United States Declaration of Independence.
Before we speak, we should think of what and how we are responding or what we are reacting towards. J.J. Thorne's poem, "Think Before We Speak", gives us words to reflect upon, counsel us, and hopefully will encourage us to be mindful of what we are saying.
