A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original review appears below. Shirley Charleson is a homemaker, and a member of Bridlewood Presbyterian Church, Agincourt, Ontario.
Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, Carole Mayhall, Navpress, 1986, 107 pp.
An easy-to-read book about something we all use, wisely and unwisely — the tongue. Carole Mayhall, the author, is a popular Christian communicator who has travelled throughout the world speaking to women at seminars and conferences on the subject of discipleship.
In her introduction Mrs. Mayhall points out that, although we may have known God for ten or twenty or more years, we still sin with our tongues. “Hopefully, vulgar offensive words are no longer in our vocabulary. We are offended if God’s name is taken in vain. But we blissfully continue in gossip, in slander, in reckless, careless idle speech that is revolting to God.” As we read the results of having a tongue controlled by God, we will be encouragers, people will come to know God and we will be offering sacrifices to God.
Each chapter points out areas where our tongue betrays us. “Aren’t I Terrific?” is a chapter on bragging. How many are guilty of this in “name-dropping, place-dropping, event-dropping, even successful-ministry-dropping?” “Woe Is Me” covers the subject of complaining; “Don’t Give it a Thought” is about reckless and careless speech. Under this latter heading the author relates several incidents where careless words have brought pain, and concludes “daily, perhaps hourly, we need to ask God to help us bite our tongue before voicing careless remarks that can hurt, even devastate. We need to ask Him to help us think before we speak.” Other chapters cover the areas of slander, gossip, discretion, giving and receiving reproof. Each chapter is followed by a Bible study guide which is helpful in discovering scriptural directives in the use of the tongue and also exercises of personal application.
In the final chapter entitled “The Sacrifice of Praise” the author points out that this is the “fruit of our lips.” “Instead of all the negative, ugly words that come out of our mouth, may the secret daily moments of our heart be filled with praise. If they are, our speech will overflow as a sacrifice upon the altar of a living loving God.”