By The Rev. Thomas M. Boles PhD, D.D.

It’s not easy to control our tongues. But as these words from the poem,

“Drop a Pebble in the Water,” by James W. Foley illustrate, a careless

word can have far-reaching effects. Fortunately, so can a careful word!

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;

But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea

And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;

But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.

They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,

And there is no way to stop them, once you’ve started them to flow.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;

But there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy a-circling, yet,

And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard

Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

Our talks are often in first drafts –

Lots of corrections necessary!

For in many things we offend all. If any

man offend not in word, the same is a

perfect man, and able also t

Virginia and Tom Boles share smiles in their La Habra home of 55 years on June 13, 2013. They both were recently awarded the 2013 Myron Claxton Distinguished YMCA Service Award for their many years of contributions to the ‘Y.’

o bridle

the whole body

James 3:2