Parker Inspirations

Did you every play the telephone game? You start with one person and whisper in their ear a phrase. They then turn to the next person and repeat the phrase one by one around the room. When it gets to the last person it is not the phrase that started the game.

As humans, we tend to add or take away from what is being said to make it more interesting. This has been a trait that began at the beginning of time. In the garden, Eve was talking to the serpent, and she added to what God had said about the fruit from the tree of Good and Evil. Eve’s reply is found in chapter 3 verse 3. She said, “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” Eve added “neither shall ye touch it”.

Twisting words to make it mean more is common in today’s conversations. If we can make someone react to what is being said, we have a sense of satisfaction. It makes us feel good when what we are saying is funny or interesting. We want to feel important or knowledgeable. It is a sense of connection to others.

The problem is that twisting words can get us into trouble. Eve, for example, saw the tree differently when she added you can’t touch it. This addition was like the domino effect. First, she lied about what God said, then she touched the fruit and then she ate it. Words are like dominos, if you line them up just right it will all fall down. Proverbs 6:2 , “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”

It would be better if we spoke less, then we would stay out of trouble. Ephesians 5:2, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” We tell children God gave you two ears and one mouth. Listen more and speak less. We all could stay out of trouble if we applied that.