Weapons and Words

When Nick's friend Darien came to play, Nick proudly showed him his new chameleon. "He eats bugs," said Nick, dropping a few into the terrarium.

Darien watched. "Hey!" he exclaimed after a few minutes. "Where did those bugs go? One minute I saw them, and the next . . . they're gone!"

"He ate them," said Nick.

"No, he didn't," Darien replied. "I was watching him."

"Yes, but a chameleon's tongue is fast-Dad says it's as fast as lightning," said Nick. "Photographers use slow motion cameras to learn their eating habits." He grinned at his father, who had entered the room. "A chameleon's tongue is longer than its body," added Nick. "It's shaped like a tube, and it's sticky on the end. It's like a weapon that can easily whip out and capture its prey. Right, Dad?" Dad nodded as he grinned back at the boys.

That evening, a song Nick's grandmother had taught him popped into his head. "Oh, how I love Jesus," he sang. "Oh, how I love . . ." Nick stopped right in the middle of a sentence. "Leave him be, Tara," he ordered his little sister. She was wiggling her fingers around in the chameleon's terrarium home. "He's my pet, not yours! Leave him alone!" Nick reached over to pull Tara's chubby hand from the container. "Don't ever play with my chameleon again, you hear?" The next moment . . . CRASH! The terrarium plunged to the floor. "Now look what you've done!" yelled Nick angrily. "Tara, you are so clumsy! Why do I have to have such a dumb sister?" He quickly put the chameleon back in its home and began to pick up twigs and leaves that had spilled onto the floor.

Dad, who saw and heard what happened, frowned. He spoke sternly to Nick as Tara ran toward her bedroom, sobbing. "Nick," said Dad, "your tongue and words attacked your sister like your chameleon's tongue attacks his lunch. His tongue sticks to bugs, and I'm afraid your hateful words have stuck to Tara like glue. One minute you were singing about loving Jesus, and the next you were spitting out hateful words. How do you think Jesus feels about that?"

"But, Dad . . ." began Nick. Then he lowered his eyes. "I . . . I'm sorry," he murmured. He hesitated, then added, "I'll go apologize."

How About You?

Do you use your tongue like a weapon and say hurtful things? For example, if you get angry, do you call your brothers and sisters or your friends ugly names? Do you say unkind things to them? The old saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me," is not true. What you say can hurt others-sometimes for a long time. Be careful to always speak kindly and say things God is pleased to hear. If you really love Him, it should show in your speech.

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