“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” ~Proverbs 12:18

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” ~Proverbs 12:18

We’ve all said something without thinking - words we want to take back. Perhaps they hurt someone, maybe even changed the course of events. I think back to junior high - we had a teacher who was very unconventional. He said whatever he was thinking - “your paper belongs in the trash”; “how did you pass 8th grade”; “your mom should have been a guppy”. Several of my classmates started riling us all up to report him to the principal. The mob mentality kicked in and we did just that. I remember being uncomfortable with what was going on. Long story short, he was fired. I still regret being part of that to this day - a zillion years later.

He was reckless with his words and so were we. Wise words, carefully considered may have had different results. We will never know.

If you look up the word ‘reckless’ in the biblical dictionary, it is likely that the apostle, Peter, is pictured. He was constantly saying things that got him in trouble. But we are graced to see his restoration and love of the Lord. No matter how many times we throw caution to the winds with our speech, Jesus never tires of enfolding us in His loving and forgiving arms.

If you are a Peter, keep that in mind. Look how God used him to build his church!

Written by: Bonnie Chovanec, 2026