A young businessman had to go out of town for a few days. He asked his Aunt Bessie to come and pick up his mail and feed his cat.

He received a very disturbing call from his brother. “Your house has burned down to the ground.”

“Oh, no!” said the young businessman. “How’s Fluffy?”

“Fluffy is dead,” said his brother.

“Oh, no! How could you have told me in such a cruel manner?”

“I’m sorry,” his brother answered, “but what else could I say?”

“You shouldn’t have been so abrupt. You could have said the house caught fire, and Fluffy got scared and climbed onto the roof. When the firemen were hosing the house down, and Fluffy got wet. Fluffy got a cold. It turned to pneumonia, and he was taken to the hospital where he died comfortably in his sleep. That wouldn’t have been such a shock to me. Now, how’s Aunt Bessie?

His brother answered, “Well, the house caught on fire and Aunt Bessie got scared and climbed onto the roof. The firemen got her wet…”

Words. They can be used to comfort. They can be used to destroy. We should use them wisely, for once we speak them, we cannot take them back. If you can’t say something positive, try not saying anything at all. People will like you a lot better, and you will even like yourself better.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.