"Talk nice" still a valuable rule to remember

Whatever happened to, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? My parents and my grandparents taught me and my sisters this from a very young age. These beloved folks were not a bunch of woosses - they lived through two world wars and the great depression. Bitter experience taught them that a hard life is easier when people are kind to teach other.

"Talk nice" was my rule no matter how crummy I felt or how upset I was about not getting my way. They knew it was one of those simple things, free except for one's sacrifice of pride and self-will, that made life go more smoothly on what was often a very bumpy road.

I often heard this poem: There was a little girl,
who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead
When she was good,
She was very very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrid.
I only recently learned that this poem was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
I usually heard it in early childhood during one of my (or one of my sister's) temper tantrums.

"Talk nice" isn't for people who want to bully or show others how angry they are. There are times and places for strong words, I agree, but most of these words, I've noticed - in stores, restaraunts, on the street, in homes, and even in congress and their campaigning for office - could probably be received better by being delivered in a kind spirit and "nice talk".

As I hear all the public shouting these days, and the foul language that is so freely spoken, the "talk nice" of my upbringing sounds hopelessly out-of-date. But if it is, then so is my bible, which is full of admonitions to treat others with kindness and compassion, including The Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12 - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Gospel of Matthew is clear that what we do to others, kind or unkind, we do to Jesus Himself. Matthew 25:31-46.

Yet unkind words seem the temper of our times, especially in the public arena. But anger, however justified or liberating it may FEEL in the moment, never seems to convince anyone of anything. Maybe the underlying source of children bullying in the schools and on the internet is this bad adult behavior.

Jesus called anger and harsh words offenses against God. "But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire." Matthew 5:22.

We could do a lot worse than re-adopting the old-fashioned, "talk nice." And if our hearts can't feel it, we need only "fake it until we make it." In other words, "If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all", and one day you'll discover, "Hey, I'm not talking mean or foul anymore!" That will be a great day. That will be my goal from now on - one day at a time!

The heavens declare the glory of God!

Holter Lake in the evening and in the fall daytime.




From the book of Sirach, chapter 39, verses 16 through 17:

"The works of God are all of them good;
in its own time every need is supplied.
At His word the waters become still as in a flask;
He had but speak and reservoirs were made."

This is such a wonderful verse of scripture. Sometime you may want to read the whole chapter. The book of Sirach, or the book of Ecclesiaticus, are found only in a catholic bible. It is one of the books that was not included in King James version, for some reason. But it is such good reading and such good direction.

As we spent our days camping, I can always know that God is the creator of the universe. He is my creator. And I know that everything He created is good! I know He is there, caring for my every need and watching over me and mine. I know that just at His word the waters become still. Like a still, small voice inside of me, I feel the calming effects of spending time with Him. I feel the reservoirs of water (the Holy Spirit) well up within me. And I know He is there! What a comfort.

We look up into the night sky and behold the millions of stars, the milky way, the moon. And they are there every single night - never changed. We know there is a God! A God who loves us. A God who loved us so much He sent His only son down here to walk with us and live among us, and be led to the cross to carry all the sins and pains and sorrows of mankind and nail them to the cross, so we could be "saved" and have eternal life.

What an awesome God we serve!