Loquacious to Gracious (TT)

'Loquacious' is a delicious-sounding word.  Maybe it could be turned into a girl's name, like, 'Loquacia'.  But then it describes an unpleasant sort of character trait.  Not many people appreciate a verbally verbose person.  You just can't get your own words in edgewise, unless you're the one rambling on and on ad infinitum.

I admit I have caught myself doing this more and more often.  I never used to be; I was as shy and quiet as a church mouse, hardly ever making a squeak.

Now I'm glad for this reminder in Deborah Smith Pegues' book, 30 Days To Taming YOUR Tongue.  I really need this admonishment.  And have truly found the Scripture verse she brings to her readers' minds, to be, well, true ...

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise"     Provbers 10:19.

There's a twin verse to that my Dad liked to remind his offspring of,

"Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent" (Proverbs 17:28 ESV).

I think my Dad was amused by the irony of the thoughts in the verse but it is indeed wisdom.

I believe, after reading of so many ways a tongue needs taming that the more one speaks, (or even writes), the more one is likely to not have reined in ones tongue to keep it from gossip, complaining, lying, meddling, being divisive, sounding cynical, tactless, and so on.  Pegues writes of 30 different ways to tame the tongue so being loquacious may well involve any one or two or more of them and they are sins.

Maybe I could just go back to sucking my thumb or duct tape my mouth but then my mind could  still swirl with all those things I'd like to say.  So this would not be a long-term solution to break the loquacious habit.  

To look out for the interests of others one could ask any one of the 5W and H questions (What?, Where?, When?, Why?, Who? and How?) so that the other person gets a chance to answer more than just a yes or no, and then let you run your mouth again.

This is also what Pegues suggests.  She says,

 "Make talking count." 

 I like this idea.  She recommends that one could share a Bible verse and what one has learned from it or some other interesing story that won't hurt anyone nor take up too much of the conversation time.

Being ever mindful as one interacts with others is indeed an art to cultivate as one navigates ones tongue taming.  Thank God, brothers and sisters-in-Christ, that we have the Holy Spirit who can convict us of what we will say before we say it; when the brain thoughts buzz, we don't always have to 'answer the door'.  Let's find gracious, not loquacious, words to speak.  They will be more 'delicious'. 

Lord, help us all to tame our tongues and today, especially make a commitment to curing ourselves of loquaciousness of character and words as we do not want to sin because our words were many. May Your Holy Spirit teach us to exercise greater self-control.  Fill our minds, hearts and mouths with gracious words and character that allows others to speak too.  We know their ideas, opinions and thoughts have value, as ever as much as our own.  I ask this in Your name Lord Jesus.  Amen.

                                                  ~ ERC  July 2025 ~

Based on Proverbs 10:19 NIV.  Also 30 Days To Taming YOUR Tongue, Day 28 - The Loquacious Tongue, by Deborah Smith Pegues.

Sing, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, along with Isliington Baptist Church.