Surely, more than once, we have found ourselves in the embarrassing situation of talking about something that we later regretted or of having participated in a conversation that was rather more like gossip. We all know that these situations are uncomfortable and they leave us with an inner uneasiness because we know very well that gossip and bad conversations do not do us any good.
A few days ago, I read an article entitled: “Ten Tips to Control the Tongue and End the Gossip“* This article was very interesting and I believe it can help us in the way we speak because, as Jesus says, the mouth speaks of what is in the heart. I share these ten tips as a summary.
1. PRAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT BEFORE SPEAKING to give us the correct words according to the occasion or the situation in which we find ourselves.
2. THINK BEFORE SPEAKING. The Apostle James says that we must be fast to listen and slow to speak. In the book Imitation of Christ says that, “few have lamented for keeping silence, many for having spoken too much.”
3. THE GOLDEN RULE. This maximum of Jesus that says “Do to others what you want them to do to you” can be applied as follows: “Tell others what you want them to tell you.”
4. SILENCE! “If you do not have anything good to say, then do not say it.”
5. ARE YOU UPSET OR ANGRY? In times of anger it is best to avoid talking. It is better to step aside to calm down because in the agitation the evil spirit tries to work in us.
6. ENCOURAGEMENT! Learn to say words of encouragement. We all need those words of encouragement, affirmation and support.
7. FORGIVE! When we fail in our conversations and offend others we must have enough humility to ask for forgiveness. Shakespeare wisely stated: “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”
8. SPIRITUAL READING: It can happen to some people that we come to an inner emptiness and realize that we have very few good and valuable things to say. That’s why you have to have the habit of spiritual reading. Spiritual reading, with the edifying testimony of the saints, will fill that void and we will have good things to say.
9. REMEMBER THE HOLY COMMUNION. Remember that with the same tongue that we receive the Lord in the Eucharist we also use it to speak. Let us hope that our words reflect HIM whom we have received in our tongue and in our hearts.
10. MARY AS A MODEL. See Mary as a model of good saying (blessing). Imagine Mary talking to Saint Joseph, Saint Elizabeth, Jesus, or others. How much love, attention, meekness, humility, discretion, joy!
Hopefully, these tips will help us control our tongue.
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*The original article is in Spanish and is entitled: “Diez Consejos para Controlar la Lengua y Acabar con el Chisme” found in PildorasdeFe.net