The Gift of Speech

Over the past year, it’s become progressively more difficult to communicate with my mother.  Although she often knows what she wants to say, because of dementia in her left frontal lobe, she has lost her ability to find the words necessary to communicate those thoughts. They call it, aphasia.  And not only can she not find the words she needs, her loss of language skills has affected her ability to process information and remember the purpose of various objects.  She can become easily confused and thus, as you can well imagine, quite frustrated. 

All of us have those moments when we can’t find a word or remember a name, especially as we get a bit older. But, can you imagine not being able to communicate a whole sentence; to have all the wrong words come out of your mouth—and not even realize it? (The speech therapists call it, “salad speech”—i.e. a toss up of mixed up words!)  And, not only is it frustrating at times for the person who is trying to communicate, but as well for those who are trying to understand them.  This is what it has been like trying to communicate with my mom.  It can become quite frustrating on both sides. 

The whole ordeal has reminded me of the complexity of language as well as the gift that it is.  We so often take our ability to communicate for granted, not realizing its intricacies. We fail to appreciate the fact that we can take our thoughts and put them into words in order to communicate those thoughts to those around us. The mere fact that I can get up in the morning and say, “I would like a cup of coffee,” or “Today I have to go to work,” or “I love you” is a process and ability that I don’t know I have ever really considered in the way I do today.  Yet, now with my mom’s inability to come up with even some of the most basic sentences, I have gained a new appreciation for language and my ability to communicate. 

Not only that, but in light of all of this, I have begun to realize just how important it is that I (and we) would use the gift of language in a positive way—i.e. to bring words of blessing into the lives of others.  How unfortunate it is that, we so often take this wonderful gift of language and use it to hurt and tear down others.  How much better it is use our words to encourage and build up the people around us. Most of all, how much better to use our ability to speak to bring our prayers and praise to God!

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24 – NIV)

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 - NIV)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 – NIV) 

Have a good day! 

Pastor Tim Harris

www.pifny.org