Apples Of Gold

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. - Prov 25:11

In the early 1900's, in the small village of Podsreda, Croatia, an altar boy named Josip Broz was serving the priest at Sunday mass. As he was holding the wine cruet, it accidentally dropped and shattered. The village priest struck the altar boy sharply on the cheek and in a gruff voice shouted:

Leave the altar and don't come back!

Crushed, Josip left the church and by the time he was eighteen, he joined the newly formed Croatian Social Democratic Party. During World War II, Josip changed his name to Marshal Tito and in 1945 Tito became the communist dictator of Yugoslavia.

There was another altar boy in the early 1900's named John who grew up in El Paso IL. He too was serving Sunday mass to a bishop when a wine cruet accidentally fell from his hand during communion. With a warm twinkle in his eyes the bishop gently whispered:

Someday you will be a priest.

John took that lesson of forgiveness and hope to heart. John not only grew up to become a priest, but Archbishop John Fulton Sheen was one of the most captivating radio preachers and influential religious authors in America.

What power we have when we say the right word at the right time. Are your words "apples of gold"? Today in prayer, thank Christ for His example of aptly spoken words. Look to the Lord to give you wisdom in all that you say.

Be humble and gentle in your conversation; and of few words, I charge you; but always pertinent when you speak. - William Penn

A man finds joy in giving an apt reply -- and how good is a timely word! - Prov 15:23

- Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS