Let thy words be like an alpine stream – refreshing, clear, satisfying
Not a cascade of volume and noise – murky, forceful, repelling
I had a brief season of logorrhea
— from the greek logos (word) + rhoia (flow)
When my older brother told me I talk too much.
First, out of stubbornness & to prove a point
I stopped talking altogether
Hoping my brother will feel bad about his comment…
He didn’t.
He thought I was such a good listener
and that his words mattered to me.
In that same season, as a preteen,
I was deeply moved by these Proverbs.
He who speaks much, it is impossible not to err (Prov. 10:19)
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver (Prov. 10:20)
The lips of the righteous refresh many people (Prov. 10:21)
A wise man receives (keeps silent) and acts (Prov. 11:12)
By the fruit of his mouth you will get much goodness (Prov. 13:2)
He who guards his mouth guards his soul (Prov. 13:3)
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45)
We ended up having an unusually great friendship
throughout our teen and adult years.