Oh, what a difference one tiny little letter made! My high school classmate, Annette, had just sent me an email telling about her upcoming surgery for shin cancer. Shin cancer? I'd never heard of such a thing, but knowing that Annette had spent her career as a high school physical education teacher and had played recreational soccer for most of her adult years, it sounded feasible. Shin guards are obviously worn for a reason in soccer, so I wondered if there was some kind of connection between Annette's soccer playing and her shin cancer.

Sympathetically, I asked if her shin cancer was connected to her many years of playing soccer. "No," she responded, "It's skin cancer, due to years of sun exposure." Many in our generation are now reaping the consequences of basting ourselves with baby oil to help develop a suntan rather than using sunblock as a preventative! To add just one more layer to this comical exchange, Annette added, "But it's right either way because I have skin cancer on my shin!"

All too often, I've found myself in the same kind of downward spiral of miscommunication. Just as an "h" rather than a "k" changed not only a word but also the meaning of my email exchange with my classmater, typos can slip into my own messages so easily. In addition, my computer and iPhone think that they can read my mind, autocorrecting at will. I've found that it's essential to review an email or text message carefully before clicking "Send"!

How many other miscommunications and misunderstandings in our lives are also due to very small things! We may misinterpret a facial expression or an ordinary gesture. We may blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, immediately wishing that we could take our words back. A seemingly small comment can set off a chain reaction of misunderstanding and hurt.

James 3:8-10 – No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (NLT)

Though a very small thing can cause great damage, in contrast a single word, small gesture, or thoughtful action can bring great blessing. Life is always a balancing act, and we don't always get things right, but it warrants intentional thought and focus to speak and act kindly rather than to inflict hurt carelessly and needlessly.

We can ask for godly help and wisdom every day in our interactions with others. It is only through God's power that we can tame our tongues and live and act in ways that honour and please Him. Let's go to the source of love as we determine to pass it on.

Prayer: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Amen. (Psalm 19:14 NLT)