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Paul Yanchek
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A Little Bit Goes a Long Way
6 stars|2 comments|January 09, 2008|795 reads
 
OK, so I go into our laundry room downstairs on January 2 to find a substantial stream of water from the bathroom wall all the way across the room to the utility sink. The leak is coming from somewhere and it is coming fast. I find a water stain on the bathroom ceiling. I cut a hole in the ceiling just enought to collect he leaking water and keep it from going through the walls and onto the floor.
 
A plumber I am not, so I call one to come out.  He cuts into the ceiling to find the source of the problem and declared, "I have never seen anything like this before!"  In one of the copper pipes was the smallest of pin-sized holes on top of the pipe.  He said it must be from when the house was built and it took all these years for the hole to open just enough.  As small as the hole was, the water was coming out like when you poke a small hole in a water balloon, then give it a squeeze.  That tiny hole created side effects that will be dealt with for a long time!

What's my point?  That tiny little hole reminded me of the power of our words.  James affirms that our tongues are very powerful.  They can do great good and they can do amazing harm.  How ofte have we said something small in passing, only to find out that it deeply hurt someone's feelings?  The side effects of that small comment cause damage worse that we drywall!

On the other hand, a small word can bring amazing blessing to someone.  Just yesterday, I watched a video of someone who does not know me as we have never met or spoken.  He said one sentence that was in no way directed at me.  However, I needed to hear that one sentence and left me nearly weeping at my desk.  It was a huge blessing and brought great healing.

Are your words leaving damage in peoples' lives or are you speaking that which edifies and builds others up in the faith?

4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.


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JesusFreak
JesusFreak
January 09, 2008
Well put Spooks! Good blog!
Paul Hospodar
 Paul Hospodar
January 11, 2008

Wow.  We didn't theorize about somethng like that!  (of course it makes me feel better that it stumped the professional too).

That being said, the 'ripple' or butterfly effect of our words and actions do have lasting/unknown effects on others that can run the gamut from extremely negative to extremely positive.  God sees and hears it all, and we'll be accountable for every last 'drop'.