WORD OF THE WEEK
ONE of the little luxuries Daphne and I enjoy these days is to have our daily newspaper delivered.
I used to walk down to town each morning to collect it, but that became impossible under lockdown.
Since then, we have enjoyed having it delivered, usually in time for breakfast.
But sometimes, when we read it, we become so depressed about things which are happening (or not happening), either in this country, or in the wider world, that we begin to wonder whether having it delivered is such a good idea after all.
However, we can always find pleasure in tackling the ‘quick crossword’.
We’re not clever enough to do the cryptic crossword – and even the ‘quick’ one is anything but quick, most days.
It has been suggested that doing crosswords is a good mental exercise which helps to keep the brain active as we grow older.
Certainly it’s often noticeable that, when we get stuck, after a few minutes the right word suddenly comes to mind.
Words are powerful things. The wrong word at the wrong time can cause great harm, causing offence and damaging relationships.
But the right word at the right time can bring encouragement, reassurance or comfort.
As it says in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of a fool gushes folly.”
Our words often reveal what sort of people we are. Jesus said: “The good person out the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”