The Bible Edge
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Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Imagine a silver bowl containing gold apples. It’s a refreshing vision. If real, the apples could satisfy hunger, quench thirst, and give energy. If the apples are graven on a pitcher from which sweet water or juice is poured they would be a sight to see bringing glory to the artisan. Or, if painted on canvas, a picture of apples of gold in vessels of silver would solicit feelings of comfort and satisfaction. A word fitly spoken is like that. It gives sweetness, strength, nourishment, comfort, a reprieve from thirst, and brings glory to the speaker.
Relationships are built on words. Visual attractiveness may bring people together, but words keep them close. Being in close proximity to another does not guarantee a long-lasting relationship, but words do. Not any words, but words fitly spoken. An artist can forge golden apples on silver vessels, but not without time, planning, skill, and effort. A real apple can be refreshing to eat, but it takes time for that apple to grow, energy to be harvested, and made available in a suitable setting. The same is true with words. A word fitly spoken takes timing, planning, skill, and effort.
A word fitly spoken is sweet to the ear. It gives strength of spirit to the hearer. It nourishes the wounded soul. It brings comfort to those in hardship. It quenches the thirst of loneliness. It brings credit to the one who speaks it. There are many who use words, but few that fitly speak those words. The ones who do are always welcome in any setting.
Larry Munson was to me a man who used words fitly spoken. Mr. Munson was the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs, a broadcaster who called games on the radio for the Bulldogs for more than forty years (1966-2008). One of his memorable calls was on a game winning pass play in 1980. Georgia was playing Florida wherein he coined the phrase “Run, Lindsay, Run” on that improbable go-ahead touchdown. Then there was the time when Georgia beat Auburn clinching the 1982 SEC championship. He said “…Look at the sugar falling out of the sky” a reference to the upcoming bid to the Sugar bowl. Upon unexpectedly beating Tennessee in 2001 after not winning there since 1980 Munson said: “We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose! We just crushed their face!” Upon beating the rival Yellowjackets of Georgia Tech it was Munson who said, “Our hearts, they was torn out and bleeding and we picked it up, and we stuffed it back inside.”
His style may have been unorthodox, his grammar questionable, and his over-the-top style not for everyone (non-Bulldog fans), but he used words fitly spoken. He communicated. With a little thought, planning, time, and effort you can too. Be unique, be yourself, be genuine and choose your words carefully. Every relationship is built by words or ruined by words.
William Howe, Ph.D.
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