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The Talent of Speech, April 20
Improving My Talents
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye
may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:6
The voice is an entrusted talent, and it should be used to help and
encourage and strengthen our fellowmen. If parents will love God and
keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, their language ...
will be of a sound, pure, edifying character. Whether they are at home
or abroad, their words will be well chosen.
The very best school for voice culture is in the home life. Study in
every way, not to annoy, but to cultivate a soft voice, distinct and plain....
Mothers should themselves act like Christ, speaking tender, loving words
in the home.
The right culture and use of the power of speech has to do with
every line of Christian work; it enters into the home life and into all our
intercourse with one another. We should accustom ourselves to speak
in pleasant tones, to use pure and correct language, and words that are
kind and courteous. Sweet, kind words are as dew and gentle showers
to the soul. The Scripture says of Christ that grace was poured into His
lips, that He might “know how to speak a word in season to him that is
weary.” And the Lord bids us, “Let your speech be alway with grace,”
“that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” ... If we follow Christ’s
example in doing good, hearts will open to us as they did to Him.
Not abruptly, but with tact born of divine love, we can tell them of
Him who is the “Chiefest among ten thousand,” and the One “altogether
lovely.” This is the very highest work in which we can employ the talent
of speech.
Righteous words and deeds have a more powerful influence for good
than all the sermons that can be preached.
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