Mouth Trouble

There is a crane found in southern Turkey that has the strange habit of picking up stones and carrying them around in its mouths as it flies around. There are a lot of different theories on why they do this. My favorite, though, is that it carries around stones in its mouth to remain quiet. You see, these cranes have a tendency to crackle a lot, especially when they fly and this noise gets the attention of the eagle in this area who would love nothing more than to swoop down and enjoy some crane for lunch.

Cranes are not the only ones who have trouble controlling what they say. In James Chapter 3 we are warned about controlling the tongue and the things we say.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:7-12

We must be careful what we say and try to keep our tongues under control. Like the crane, we have an enemy just waiting for his chance to devour us. So let us heed the words of the writer of Proverbs, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”

Proverbs 21:23