Power of words construction and destruction

Raghavan was returning from his work on his bicycle as usual. He was planning in his mind what to do in the coming weekend, He wanted to take his daughter and wife to the city to show them the new movie running in the movie theater. He was riding his bicycle in a pleasant mood. He was just started to go ahead to a bus which was stopped at the bus stop for getting passengers. Suddenly he heard the sound of a speeding bus coming from behind. It was about to overtake the stopped bus. Before he could realize what was happening, the driver of the bus which was stopped saw the other bus started his bus also to prevent the other bus from overtaking him as he will lose passengers in the next stop. It took the right move and the other bus which was coming from behind was also at a great speed. Before realizing what is happening, both the buses crushed Raghavan.

When the people gathered around seeing what had happened, they understand that he is alive. They took him to the hospital. Doctors did their best to save his life. But due to the injury, his body paralyzed and he could not move his body below his neck. His wife Geeta took good care of him as well as her daughter who was 8 years old. Since Raghavan was the sole breadwinner of the family, owing there is no other income, Geeta had to find a job as well to meet the ends. It is not forgotten that help came from many sources, but it was not sufficient enough to run the house.

Since then Geeta had to go for her day job and took good care of Raghavan and her daughter as well. She stopped having lunch in her workplace as her husband won't be able to eat himself. They eat their meals together in the evening when she returns. The other day Geeta was about to go for her work. As usual, she gave him a farewell kiss. Seeing her love, Raghavan's eyes filled with tears. Seeing his tears, Geeta thought he was having some pain or something like that. She asked Raghavan, about the reason for his tears. He said, "You are doing many things for me. You are working in the daytime, in the evening and morning you do the work of the house as well, moreover, I am not able to help you, I am a burden for you. I don't know how to repay for your love and care."

Geeta, with tears, replied "It's ok. You have done more than enough for us before you fell down. You loved us and took good care of us. Now it's our turn to return the love and care. You are alive. That is what we need. It gives us courage and strength to continue. Your presence is all that we need."

There is love in their life and their house.

Just opposite Raghavan's house, there is the house of Rajan.

Rajan is an accountant, working with a multinational company. His wife Miny is a housewife. They have a daughter and a son. They have a car, investments in different sectors, bank balance for many years to live. Still, they don't have time to do the things they are supposed to do. They have complaints about many things like - workplace problems, Son's school problem, problems with Colleagues, traffic problem etc, there is no end for their list of complaint. They used to have fights about silly things. Rajan is not happy with the way she cooks food. There is no taste in the food she prepares. Also, he accuses Mini of the poor performance of their children in the academics. Miny is also not happy with Rajan. He is not a helping, caring or a loving husband. In the evening after returning from his work, he eats and then watches TV till midnight. Not helping their children to study.Not helping in the housework.

When she wakes up early in the morning to send their children to school, it is a disturbance for him and he complains that she is not allowing him even to sleep. When children make noise, she is not controlling the children. Miny had to drop her children to the bus stop in the morning and she complains that he is not bothered to drop the children to the bus stop. She had to prepare his lunch as well. They both are not happy with the partner's way of doing the things. He demands that she should his dress for an office-ready which includes his underwear and soaks. Even though he is getting everything readily available, he often said in her face "there is no use in having a wife like you" That words are painful than anything else in the world. Painfully she cries when she is alone. There is no meaning in their life. There is no love and peace in that house.

From the time we get up till we go for the sleep, we speak many words. Knowingly or unknowingly, consciously or unconsciously we utter many words. To have peaceful surroundings in and around us, we need to control our words. Our words can provoke people around us. More stress is given in controlling our words in the bible. James says that : (James 3: 3-12) When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

There is power in our tongue. Power to destruct and power to construct.

Let us examine ourselves whether we are using our tongue for constructive purposes or for destructive purposes.