Blistering Tongue

There is a Turkish quote that goes something like this:
"The knife wound heals, the tongue wound festers."

Metaphorically, we have seen how the pen is truly mightier than the sword. Words can be as lethal as any other physical weapons. And in this day and age, character assasination seem to be even more easy with the aide of a technology that allows the word sniper to hide behind the screen of anonymity. Bullying via cyber means, has found new heights as humans lash out torrents of untruths, half-truths or pure arsenic-laced phrases to taunt, haunt and hurt others; irregardless whether they know the individual or not.

Why?
Where does it all begin?
Can it ever stop?

I don't think we can stop...if we don't examine ourselves first.
It is always easier to hurt others, and humans have this hidden peverse pleasure of watching others suffer.

We call each other names...we allow 'toot' language to become the norm, and hands up those who have never ever said a bad thing about someone else, or even gossip.

I am not adopting a 'holier-than-thou' attitude here...this is for my own self-reflection. I know I am just as guilty as charged.

But at this point, it is a reminder of how I carefully I have to say the things I want to say to others, about the choice of words I use.

Of late, I feel very hurt by some of the things people say...some intentionally, and unintentionally. Sometimes, it is not so much about what is said, but how it is said, and why it is said...and it is painful. Harm is done, and the scars remain.

The question is...how do I respond?
I don't know...
I am still learning, un-learning, and re-learning.

Dear God,
Help me to remember...guard my tongue if there is nothing good to say, and even when I do, make it for the right reasons.
Ameen