Keith’s excitement at seeing his grandchildren turned to concern at the sound of his granddaughter’s voice.

“You care more about a bunch of orphans than you do about your own kids! I can’t believe you’re leaving us out in the middle of nowhere for a whole month!” Jessica grabbed her suitcase and stormed off to the farmhouse, a dust cloud traveling in her wake.

Jean turned toward Keith and grimaced. “I’m sorry, Dad. She’s at a tough age. Sometimes she says some pretty hurtful things. She’s right, though. A month is a long time. We just really feel that God is calling us…”

Keith held up his hand. “Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll be just fine, won’t we, Sport?”

“You bet, Grandpa! It’s going to be great!” Bobby grinned as he rolled on the ground with the dogs.

Later, after observing the effects of Jessica’s words on her brother and grandmother, Keith decided it was time for a lesson. He found Jessica sitting on the porch swing, a pout marring her otherwise attractive face. He held out his hand, showing Jessica a small metal rod with rings on both ends.

“Do you know what this is?”

Jessica gave the item a disinterested glance and shook her head.

“No? Then I’ll show you. How would you like to learn to ride a horse?”

Jessica’s expression brightened for the first time all day. Keith led her to the stable and introduced her to Charlotte, their chestnut mare. He showed her how the bit would fit into the horse’s mouth and how it would attach to the bridle. For the rest of the afternoon, Jessica and Charlotte were inseparable.

After dinner, Keith called Jessica to him. “Could you please bring my Bible here?”

Jessica complied, carrying the heavy leather-bound volume to her grandfather. Pipe smoke formed a wreath around his head as he carefully turned the pages until he found what he was looking for. “James, chapter 3.”

He read the chapter to his granddaughter as she sat at his feet. When he finished, he lifted her chin with one finger so she looked into his face. “Do you really think your parents don’t care about you, your brother is stupid, and we are crazy for living out here on this farm?”

Jessica blushed and lowered her eyes, “No.”

“These are all things I heard you say today.”

“I didn’t mean it. I was just upset because I wanted to spend the summer with my friends back home.”

Keith closed the Bible and placed a hand on Jessica’s shoulder. “God tells us we need to be careful with our words. We can either choose to build others up or tear them down. Just like we can control Charlotte with that bit, your tongue can control you.”

Jessica chewed her lip. “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’ll try harder to be kind.”

---

“Grandpa?”

The old man’s eyes fluttered open as he struggled to sit up in the hospital bed. The young woman standing beside him slowly came into focus. “Jessica. What brings you here?”

“I’m going away for a while, and I wanted to tell you something before I leave.” She moved closer to the bed, and pulled something from her purse. “Do you remember the summer we came to stay with you and you gave me this?”

Keith leaned forward to look at the object in her outstretched hand. His face clouded as he sank back against the bed. “Of course I do. That was when you had your accident. I still can’t understand why it happened. Charlotte had always been so gentle before. I still feel terrible about it. You were laid up for the rest of the summer.” He shook his head, looking down at the bit in her hand. “l can’t believe you kept that. Seems to me you’d want to forget all about that trip.”

Jessica’s expression grew serious. “Absolutely not. I keep this bit with me all the time to make sure I don’t forget. I couldn’t speak for six months after falling from the horse. When I was in the hospital, all I kept thinking about was what you had taught me the night before. Grandpa, I think God took away my speech to teach me. It’s taken me a while to learn my lesson, but I wanted to let you know, now that I’ve finished with school, I’ve decided to become a missionary and spend my life speaking the words God has given me.”

James 3: 3-8

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Dear Lord, help us always to remember our words have power. Please help us to control our tongues and use our words to lift others up, not bring them down.