Two Words

A Chancellor Ferry Tale

"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart...let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2)



Our friends, Bill and Jeanne, are a lovely senior couple in our church. Due to a debilitating stroke, Jeanne's words are few and far between these days. But like E. F. Hutton, when she speaks everybody listens.

In January, I gave them a copy of my children's book, A Chancellor Ferry Tale. Last Sunday, Jeanne grabbed my hand and with eyes as bright as Christmas lights on a Virginia pine she spoke two words with more impact than a New York Times review: "Good book!"

I confess. I'm guilty of speaking many, many, many words and much, much, much advice. My Phillip, on the other hand, withholds advice until asked for. So who do people prefer to listen to? The man of few words. 

O Lord, set a guard over our mouths; keep watch over the doors of our lips (Psalm 141:3). Make us quick to listen, slow to speak and even slower to anger (James 1:19). For a truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered (Prov, 17:27). Amen and amen.