We communicate respect with the words we use to communicate.

Every one of us has had the experience of letting our tongues get away from us.  We say things we wish we hadn’t said.  We learn quickly that it is impossible to unsay unpleasant or harsh words.  We can only count on forgiveness and hope for forgetfulness when it comes to regrettable words.

Andy Stanley encourages us to think of our tongue as a tool for building up others.

Building words are wholesome.  They encourage others.  They offer ideas or better alternatives.  When critical, they are constructed in such a way to reduce defensiveness on the part of the hearer.

It’s easy to think of communicating orally with others as a natural thing.  It comes to mind, we say it.  Then we let the chips fall.

We do better if we think of ourselves as oral craftsmen who are constantly trying to improve the impact of our words.

The better we are, the more progress we make.  Always forward, seldom back.