Friday, August 13, 2010

Gentleness of Voice






It’s not so much what you say
As the manner in which you say it;

It’s not so much the language you use
As the tone in which you convey it;

“Come here!” I sharply said,
And the child cowered and wept.

“Come here,” I said-
He looked and smiled
And straight to my lap he crept.

Words may be mild and fair
And the tone may pierce like a dart;

Words may be soft as the summer air
But the tone may break my heart;

For words come from the mind
Grow by study and art-

But tone leaps from the inner self
Revealing the state of the heart.

Whether you know it or not,
Whether you are mean or care,

Gentleness, kindness, love and hate,
Envy, anger, are there.

Then, would you quarrels avoid
And peace and love rejoice?

Keep anger not only out of your words-

Keep it out of your voice.




~Author Unknown




Article posted by Miss Jocelyn @ Training Daughters, Teaching Wives





20 comments:

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

The conviction falls... Thank you!

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

So true! I know I have to watch my tone especially when I'm upset...

Rocky Mountain Homemaker said...

I'm so glad the Lord led me to your blog!

A said...

Very convicted on this lately, as I have seen the way my children are speaking to one another at times. I know I am with them the most and they will do as I do, not necessarily do as I say.

Kris said...

Thank you for posting this! My voice has been an ongoing challenge for me all of my adulthood; I did not grow up in a loving household, and unfortunately I am far too quick to repeat those annoyed, irritated, and angry tones that I knew with my own children. I don't want the cycle to continue; it has to be broken with me. Thank you for this reminder!

Country Girl in the City said...

Oh, this speaks to me...... Thank you.

Miss Janet said...

Very good.

I am one of those people who get cut by a sharp tone!

You know, Mrs. Duggar has such a sweet tone and always speaks her words with such gentleness!

She is a true role model for mothers.

Love,

Janet

Anonymous said...

What a lovely reminder and it is so true. I am convicted. I have one of those "tones" I try very hard through the Lord to watch HOW I put my words. I just have this natural (not so natural) tones. It comes out before I realize how it sounds. I have been praying and studying on my words all summer. I love this. Thanks.

Jamie said...

http://pursuingtheoldpaths.blogspot.com/2010/07/tone-of-voice.html

I have this same poem and artwork by Pino on my blog. Tone of Voice is so important. A daily struggle at times. I have this poem hung in my kitchen to remind me to always speak in a god honoring tone of voice.

Pioneer Beauty said...

Dear Mrs. Fuentes,
I just wanted to pop in you and say that I got my official welcome for the Quilting group...and say thank you for the kind words as well in your reply to my comment..Your post is one of the many virtues that we teach in our home...I am blessed to have found your blog and look forward to visiting with you again..
In Christ
Angelina

The Momma Chronicles said...

Thank you for this! I hope you don't mind (and if you do, I'll take it down immediately) but I blogged about this post today. It really hit me where I needed to be hit. Thank you!

http://themommachronicles.blogspot.com/2010/08/uncle.html

Dellaina

Laura said...

So true. I have printed it out as a reminder. Thank you!

Southern Lady said...

I like this poem. Thanks for posting it.

Robin said...

I Love this! Thank you!

Linda said...

So very true...and even when dealing with adults. A soft answer turneth away wrath!

I long to have gentleness of voice and a meek and quiet spirit.

Mary-Jane Potter said...

A friend just sent me a link to this poem because 5 months ago i lost my voice and it still hasnt come back. Obviously i was very upset by this especially as i am a singer and my voice is a very important part of my worship. While i was in Taize this June I asked God if he wanted to heal my vocie? i asked him to make my heart open to receive his healing if that was his will but he seemed to tell me he did not want to heal my voice. INstead God told me he had taken my voice not as a punnishment, not as a suffering but as a blessing in answer to my prayers. Someone commented on how gentle Mrs Duggar's voice is - well thats exactly it! when i hear her voice or that of Nancy Cambell and other such women with gentle voices - well there is just something about it that instantly sooths and relaxes me, you know you are with a safe, wise and Godly woman. i had been praying that i would become one of these women, that i would become a woman of gentle nature. As i realised this was why i had lost my voice God showed me a picture of his hands holding a glow of light, this was my voice, he said to me this is the new voice i am giving you, when i give it to you it will be gentler and better than before and will be used to glorify me more, but while i still hold on to it i am making it more beautiful for you. He then reminded me of a word spoken over me that my voice would be my evangelism. So now i change my prayer - not to be healed but to receive my new voice and for him to mold that voice into something more beautiful and honouring to Him.

Pioneer Beauty said...

June..just letting you know that I just signed my sons up for the Patriots club..so I am off to leave 9 more comments.
Angelina

Pioneer Beauty said...

leaving comment number 9
I must say we were really eyeballing that Patriots Geneva Bible....

Far Above Rubies said...

Thank you, June.

Amy said...

Thank you for posting this. I have printed this out and am going to frame/hang it where I can see for a reminder of how my tone can affect the whole atmosphere of my home. I am so encouraged by the things you post here on your blog. I don't comment often with 3 kids in tow, but I do read daily and am truly blessed by what you share. Thanks

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