Program: Real FamilyLife (90 seconds)

 

 

Dennis Rainey: In your family relationships, is your tounge more like an ice pick or a paint brush?

Guest: People always made fun of my name. My name is Geoff, but I spell it "G - E - O - F - F." I would get called, like, "Ge-off" or "Goof" or "Gorf" and I'm sure people have had worse. Kids are cruel. I mean, kids can be so cruel.[ Read Full Transcript ]

Dennis Rainey: When I was a boy, I remember going with my dad to the ice house to get a block of ice for making ice cream. The iceman knew exactly how to use his pick to strike the ice and break off a piece of just the right size.

In the family, your tongue can be like an ice pick, chipping away at another person's self-worth and character. I've counseled people who knew their mates' weak spots, and in a stressful moment, would use words to purposefully hack, slice and cut their partners.

But the tongue can also be used beautifully, like a paintbrush. My wife, Barbara, amazes me with her ability to use words that cause beautiful pictures to emerge in other people's lives.

One final thought. Today, why don't you practice using your words to add beauty to other people's lives? Resolve to trade in your ice pick for a paintbrush.

I'm Dennis Rainey, and that's Real FamilyLife.