Summary: As Katie stopped in the middle of the mountain trail, her friend Gretchen bumped into her. "Whoa!" exclaimed Gretchen. "Why did you stop?" Katie pointed to a hillside across the valley. "Mom said we'd see a place where there had been a forest fire--and that's it!" "Wow!" exclaimed Gretchen as the girls stared at the charred remains. When they moved on, she turned to Katie. "Did you know Blake cheated on a test and might even get suspended from school?" Gretchen asked. "Yeah. He says he didn't do it, but who's gonna believe that?" replied Katie. "And what about Steve? Mary thinks he stole money from her desk. He should be suspended, too." "Want some water?" Turning, the girls saw Katie's mother coming to join them. She held out the canteen, and they sat on a fallen log to rest. "What caused that forest fire, Mom?" asked Katie, pointing to the hillside again. "It sure destroyed a lot of trees, didn't it?" "The news report said it started from a little campsite fire," replied Mom. She frowned as she added, "A fire always reminds me that the Bible calls the tongue a fire. Our words can have the same effect as that campfire." Katie grinned. "I can burn down a forest with my mouth?" she asked, knowing that wasn't right. Mom smiled. "Your words can't destroy trees," she said, "but they can destroy friendships and damage lives. When we say unkind things, it can hurt people's feelings and their reputations." "But it's okay to say things if we know they're true, isn't it?" Gretchen asked. "Not necessarily," replied Mom. "Occasionally, there may be some useful purpose for repeating it, but it's generally better to keep to yourself anything that would hurt another person. Like a tiny spark, a tiny, unkind suggestion can spread and cause a lot of harm." Mom pointed toward the hillside. "It will take a long time for trees to grow back in that area," she said, "but it may take even longer to repair damage done by unkind words." Gretchen held up her camera. "I'll take a picture," she decided, "to remind myself of what a little fire--or a few mean words like I've used lately--can do." How About You? Have you caught yourself spreading personal information about others? Has anyone ever spread gossip about you? Sometimes you may say things without realizing the damage your words can do. It's a good idea to think before you speak and to ask God to help you keep from starting any fires with your tongue. Today's Key Verse: Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. (Proverbs 26:20) Today's Key Thought: Refuse to spread gossip
