With the recent fires going on nearby, this particular devotion from Random Ramblings of a Raving Redhead has been on my mind.

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Yesterday, Jason and I took our dogs to Jones Gap State Park. About half-way through our hike, we came upon a section of the park that had burned in a recent forest fire. Blackened tree branches lay twisted on the ground. Leaves that were once green and vibrant now hung limply, brown and decayed. Scorch marks stained the ground, providing even more evidence of the previous devastating event. The woods were quiet, and a great sadness hung in the air. What was once a beautiful place and a comforting home to many creatures was now nothing more than a depressing scene. And all because of someone's carelessness. Yes, the fire was started by a campfire that was not properly cared for. Carelessness created desolation.

As we wandered along the path, I began to think about how much pain and destruction can be caused by careless words and actions. Can you think of a time when you were hurt by someone saying or doing something careless? I'm sure we all can. Even more so, I'm sure we can all think of a time when we said or did something careless and hurt someone else in the process.

We must be very careful. We need to think before we speak or act. We need to rein in our emotions. Carelessness on our part could lead to pain and devastation in the life of another.

The Bible has a lot to say about this topic. . . especially about the things that come out of our mouth. Check it out.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. - James 3:5-8

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. - Proverbs 25:11

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger. - Proverbs 15:1

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. - I Peter 3:10

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. - Luke 6:45

These verses and many more remind me of the children's song that I used to sing with my class when I taught kindergarten. It went like this "Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see; oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful, little eyes, what you see." The other verses state, "Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear," "Oh, be careful, little mouth, what you say, "Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do," & "Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go." The song may be for children, but it's a lesson we would all do well to remember. Careless thoughts, words, and actions can cause a lot of damage, and just like the fire-damaged area, it may take a long time to repair the harm that was done.