Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

- Colossians 4.6

[A monk] should not speak evil of, or harshly reproach another, nor should he put anyone to the blush. Never should he violently rebuke anyone or carry on a conversation with a boorish person, and his speech at all times should be noted for his lack of boastfulness.

- The Rule of Ailbe, Irish, 8th century

I’ll be the first to admit that my speech is not always gracious. Indeed, at times my speech is, well, boorish, angry, mean-spirited, unkind, and hurtful.

I’ll also be the first to admit that this is not the way I want others to speak to me. Why is it so easy for me, on the one hand, to unleash my tongue in ungracious ways, and, on the other, to criticize those who do the same to me?

James taught us that the tongue is very, very hard to tame (Jms. 3.2, 8). But this can’t be an excuse for not striving to be more gracious in our speech. I work at this, I really do, but the law of sin is still an active force in my soul, and it often makes itself known through the vehicle of my tongue.

But what a sweet image Paul holds out: tongues like Jesus’ tongue, saturated with grace (cf. Ps. 45.2). How do we attain such a lofty objective? Practice. The more we exercise our tongues in the direction of gracious speech, the more gracious speech will become our normal mode of conversation.

Surely someone you will meet today could benefit from a word fitly spoken, and a little salting of grace from your tongue? Why not begin praying about opportunities to touch others with the grace of God through the medium of speech? Make that a daily prayer, and God will be more likely to hear and help you in this huge but important challenge.

There is enough of frivolous, spiteful, critical, hurtful, harsh, and boorish speech in the world already. We can add something much more appealing, and much more likely to keep conversations going with those who experience the grace of God through the words we speak.

Living water can flow from your tongue to the ears of others, if only you’ll pray and practice in the power of the Spirit of our gracious King.

Psalm 141.3, 4 (Truro: “Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns!”)
Lord, set a guard upon my mouth; let not my heart to evil bend,
Nor let me work iniquity in company with wicked men.

Lord, today help me to speak Your truth without bitterness, without indulgence, with patience, and with gentleness. Adapted from Colmán mac Beógnai, Aipgitir Chrábaid