Reading the James 3:1-12 passage is powerful to me. It’s only 12 verses, so take the time and read through it if you haven’t.

The imagery just really paints a picture in your mind of the kind of control being talked about. And what has this control? The tiny little tongue.

It is so small, yet so powerful.

The words you say have a powerful impact on others. A kind word can lift someone from a valley, but a negative word can push someone down who may have already been knocked down.

My 3-year-old son made the joyful revelation when talking and making faces at his baby cousin this summer - “If I’m happy at her, she’s happy at me!” Life isn’t quite always like this, but typically, if you speak kindly to someone, you are much more likely to get a positive response from them whether it is a kind word back or help in an area you are looking for.

Verses 9-10 read: With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

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How can we curse someone made in God’s likeness with the same mouth we praise our God with? Those ideas are so contradictory, yet it is easy to put people down.

For example, you may be aware that we have an election coming up soon. There are so many negative things being said about politicians in all parties. But how can we talk this way about someone made in the likeness of God? I think what it boils down to is that is not how we are viewing them. We are looking at them based on their actions or thoughts that we don’t agree with, but not looking at who they are as a person which is someone made in God’s likeness.

Let us try to view everyone in this way in order that we might better praise God.