President Calvin Coolidge was famously known as a man of few words. His nickname was “Silent Cal.”
His wife, Grace Coolidge, told the story of a young woman
who sat next to her husband at a dinner party. She told Coolidge she had a bet
with a friend that she could get at least three words of conversation from him.
Without looking at her he quietly retorted, “You lose.”
Coolidge understood very well the value of using only
carefully considered words - and those being few in number.
In a time when people reveal their most personal information
in the most public ways without thought or hesitation, it is important for us
to recapture this piece of wisdom.
Truly wise believers do not feel the need to tell everything
they know to everyone they meet - much less to total strangers. Instead they
choose their words with care, recognizing the responsibility that comes with
our speech.
Lord Jesus said: “I tell you that everyone will have to answer
for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the Day of
Judgment.” (Mat 12:36 ERV)
- ‘The Presidents of the United States of America’, Frank
Freidel & Hugh S. Sidey (ministry127.com)
“Learn to hold thy tongue; five words cost Zacharias forty
weeks of silence.” - Thomas Fuller.
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