What’s got your tongue?

​The tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua) is a parasitic isopod that enters fish through the gills and attaches to the tongue. The parasite severs the blood vessels in the fish's tongue, causing the tongue to fall off. It then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. What an amazing lesson from nature. The gills act as the lungs of the fish and it is directly affected by what it takes in from its surroundings. If it is swimming in infested waters it runs the risk of being infected with this horrible infestation. What waters are you swimming in? Who are what are you surrounding yourself with? What are you “taking in?” If you aren’t careful, very subtle but destructive ideas will enter and attach themselves and “take root.” Listen to the following warning in Proverbs:
 
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. - Proverb2 21:23
 
I find it interesting that this scripture distinctly differentiates the “mouth” and the “tongue” as two separate entities which need to be guarded. Incidentally, I found twenty other verses that use the same language. The mouth (peh), having the capacity to “break into pieces”, is like a blunt instrument that can shatter emotions and tear down what may have taken years to build. Trust, affection, and hope can be instantly broken by a harsh or poorly spoken word. How many friendships have been destroyed, marriages ruined, and loved ones alienated because of a thoughtless or harsh word? We all know that moment of remorse we feel when we realize, usually the instant after it is too late, that we have cut someone down by a harsh word or even just our tone. Likewise, we know the pain of being on the receiving end of such careless words. These are not pre-meditated words of destruction, but they cause damage nonetheless. But oh, the damage caused by the tongue. The tongue is the crafty, pre-meditated, intentional weapon tied more directly to the intellect. This is the more sinister of the two by far. I have been on the receiving end of this one, having been the victim of slander. I know the pain it can cause and how difficult it can be to reverse the damage that is done. If we are not careful – If our minds are not being renewed by the washing of the water of the word of God, the enemy can take root when we allow unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, or offense to attach itself to us. Rather, we must be quick to forgive, showing grace and mercy. If we will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we can learn to submit these terrible weapons to his leading. Proverbs 18:21 tells us “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” So, let us pray like King David “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” And Colossian 4:6 admonishes us “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (prudence), so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

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