"Pray without ceasing."
- I Thessalonians 5:17

You better buckle up.

It's going to be a bumpy ride.

I walked into an area Wal-Mart and I immediately noticed two cashiers talking excitedly together while pointing at a girl who was standing several rows over.  They next thing I know BOTH of them stabbed her.  Seriously, right there in Wal-Mart!  And, the bad thing about it was, those who saw it, didn't do a thing about it.

Oh, but it gets worse.

I continued walking towards the grocery department and I noticed a couple of stock guys working together on the canned goods aisle.  Apparently, one of the guys was new to the area.  And do you want to know how the other guy made him feel welcome...

...he poisoned him!  I couldn't believe it.  He poisoned him right there in Wal-Mart.

But, that wasn't the end of this nightmare.

I had drunk a bit too much soda, so I made my way back to the restroom.  There was a woman, probably about 35 or so, and her daughter, somewhere around 12, standing by the water fountain.  What I saw as I rounded the corner just made me cringe.  The mother just beat the little girl up right there in front of everyone.  The poor thing never whimpered or cried, but you could tell it hurt by the look on her face.

As soon as I left the restroom I headed for the door.  I had to get out of this place.

But, not before I saw more mayhem.

Husband and wife.  Front and center.  I'm not sure exactly what happened here.  All I know is that he lashed out at her and she lashed back out at him and then when the brawl was over their marriage was one step closer to divorce court.

And I exited the front door, happy that no one had jumped on me.

Now, did I just witness some kind of World Wrestling Federation free for all?  Nope.  Did I watch a real life boxing match play out before my eyes?  Nope.  What then, exactly, happened at Wal-Mart during this visit...

Two cashiers stabbed their friend in the back when they told untruths about her.  A stock boy poisoned a new guy's mind by telling all the dirty little secrets he knew about other co-workers.  A mom beat her little girl up with abusive words.  And a husband and wife lashed out at each other with angry tongues, saying things they can never take back.

Christian, the tongue is a powerful member.  Words, when used incorrectly, can be as destructive as... 

...stabbing someone with a knife.
...poisoning someone with poison.
...beating up someone with your fists.
...lashing out at someone with your hands and feet. 

Be careful today.  Choose your words wisely.  Try to encourage and uplift those around you with what you say. 

After all, it's easy to hurt someone with a weapon like the tongue.

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  But not man can tame the tongue.  it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."  - James 3:6, 8