Words

I said something a while ago, when we were discussing Christmas decorations. "What do you want to do about the Christmas tree?" I was asked and I said something about "pagan fertility symbols" and how I didn't think they were that appropriate. It wasn't the meaning I intended, but the meaning that was taken was that "I want to NOT have a Christmas tree". I have upset people, and a replacement, of sorts, has been found. "We've got nowhere to put presents!" seems to be the main complaint, meaning (I assume) that there's not obvious place for the presents to be put because there's no tree for them to be put under. I have refrained, so far, from pointing out that the lack of something generally means that there is more space. That wouldn't be a good thing to say. It just shows how easy it is to mis-communicate.

Words have power, whether you intend them to or not ...
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

That's the observation, this is the lesson:
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Later it talks about praising and cursing ... idle comments and ill-considered responses are not covered, but apply none-the-less.