Michael was raised on a
Midwestern farm in Illinois that had been in his family for several
generations. Michael’s parents, like their parents before them, instilled
Christian values into their children’s upbringing. They were good people who
placed great value in speaking respectfully to one another and being kind to
everyone. When Michael reached the age of ten, he started to become rebellious.
He hated the clothes he wore to school. Michael was needed after school on the
farm, so he resented the fact that he was unable to play freely like most kids.
Michael began to speak badly to his parents. In belief that his parents were
somehow unfair to him, he cursed them; he lied to them; he expressed his hate
and resentment for them on several occasions. Because Michael had two younger
brothers and a sister, his parents had to set a proper example for them by
punishing Michael. Michael’s parents had concluded that every time Michael
would curse or speak unkindly to them or his siblings, he would be required to
take a nail and hammer to the old wooden fence, which sat at the very back acre
of the farm. Once he reached the fence, he was required to hammer that one nail
into the fence and return to the farmhouse. Michael chuckled inside once he learned
of such a ludicrous punishment. The first time Michael used negative words
against his family, he realized that the walk to the fence was quite a long
one, yet he continued his rebellion. Whether it was scorching hot, freezing
cold, torrential downpours, or very comfortable outside, his parent required
that Michael’s punishment be carried out. Michael’s stubbornness persisted, and
he continued to be careless with his words. Though his parents continued to
forgive him for his hateful expletives, he would return to form and again begin
his misguided outbursts.
Years went by and Michael’s visits to the fence had slowly reached the point of afterthought. He was now sixteen and had matured and grown tired of the long, unnecessary trips to that old wooden fence. One morning at breakfast, Michael said to his parents “Mom, Dad, I haven’t gone to that old fence in months now.” His parents smiled at him. His father stood, opened the kitchen cabinet, and reached for the hammer that Michael grew accustomed to using. He placed it in front of Michael and said to him: “Today, your single chore is to go to that fence and remove every last nail from that old fence. When you are done, come and fetch me and your mother.” Michael was confused by his father’s request, but did as he was told. It took him hours to remove the many nails that had been hammered into the fence over those years. When he was done, he fetched his parents as instructed. When they arrived at the fence as a family, Michael was pleased with himself. “See daddy, I’ve done exactly as you said. No more nails.” His father and mother looked at him with tears in their eyes... His father saying to him “Michael, that hammer was symbolic of your tongue, and the nails, your words. The fence you see in front of you is representative of your mother and I. When you hammered with your tongue, driving the nails that were your words, you pierced our hearts as you did this fence. As the fence stood idle and without blame, so did we. Our forgiveness was symbolized by allowing you to remove the nails. As you can see Michael, though the nails have been removed, the damage has been done.” Michael’s father added, “Your mother and I have purchased new wood. Take from it what is needed and use the hammer and nail to construct a new fence. Son the hammer and nail (i.e. tongue and words) should be used to construct the fence, not tear it down.”
Years went by and Michael’s visits to the fence had slowly reached the point of afterthought. He was now sixteen and had matured and grown tired of the long, unnecessary trips to that old wooden fence. One morning at breakfast, Michael said to his parents “Mom, Dad, I haven’t gone to that old fence in months now.” His parents smiled at him. His father stood, opened the kitchen cabinet, and reached for the hammer that Michael grew accustomed to using. He placed it in front of Michael and said to him: “Today, your single chore is to go to that fence and remove every last nail from that old fence. When you are done, come and fetch me and your mother.” Michael was confused by his father’s request, but did as he was told. It took him hours to remove the many nails that had been hammered into the fence over those years. When he was done, he fetched his parents as instructed. When they arrived at the fence as a family, Michael was pleased with himself. “See daddy, I’ve done exactly as you said. No more nails.” His father and mother looked at him with tears in their eyes... His father saying to him “Michael, that hammer was symbolic of your tongue, and the nails, your words. The fence you see in front of you is representative of your mother and I. When you hammered with your tongue, driving the nails that were your words, you pierced our hearts as you did this fence. As the fence stood idle and without blame, so did we. Our forgiveness was symbolized by allowing you to remove the nails. As you can see Michael, though the nails have been removed, the damage has been done.” Michael’s father added, “Your mother and I have purchased new wood. Take from it what is needed and use the hammer and nail to construct a new fence. Son the hammer and nail (i.e. tongue and words) should be used to construct the fence, not tear it down.”
Brethren, before we open our
mouths, we should “T.H.I.N.K about our words”:
T – Is it Thoughtful?
H – Is it Helpful?
I – Is it Inspiring?
N – Is it Necessary?
K – Is it Kind?
A Christian tongue will speak all
of the above. I do not feel a need to elaborate any further…
My prayer for you today:
“Heavenly Father, I pray that you guide my tongue in dealings with my fellow brethren. Help me deliver words that are Christ-Like, words that are builders of man instead of destroyers of man. Let my tongue be of guidance and encouragement to another. Lastly, may my tongue be forever used in praise of your Holy name. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…
“Heavenly Father, I pray that you guide my tongue in dealings with my fellow brethren. Help me deliver words that are Christ-Like, words that are builders of man instead of destroyers of man. Let my tongue be of guidance and encouragement to another. Lastly, may my tongue be forever used in praise of your Holy name. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…
May this message bless you all….
By: C.D. McCloud
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