For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
James keeps writing his letter to help God's family love each other well.
Today he talks about something very small that can do something very big — your tongue!
Today's Story
In his letter, James wanted God's family to think about their words. So he gave them some pictures to help.
“Look at a horse,” he wrote. “A horse is huge! But a tiny metal bit in its mouth turns the whole big animal wherever you want it to go.”
“And look at a big ship,” James said. “The wind pushes it across the sea — but one small steering wheel turns the whole thing.”
“Your tongue is just like that,” he wrote. “It is very small. But it is very, very powerful.”
Then James said something surprising. “A tiny spark can start a giant fire. Words are the same! Mean words can hurt and spread fast.”
“Here is the strange thing,” James went on. “With the same mouth we say kind things and unkind things. But fresh water and yucky water don't come from the same spring — so let's let only good, kind words come out of us.”
Our words can build people up or knock them down. James says: choose words that bless!
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Think back over today. What is one kind thing someone said to you, and how did it make you feel?
- James says a tiny spark can start a big fire. How can one unkind word grow into a big hurt?
- Who is someone you could bless with your words tomorrow? What might you say to them?