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He Who Cast A Stone

I stood beside the river…..
It was quiet and calm and still,
When someone cast a stone
into the water….as folks will;

With a tiny splash it landed,
Then, quickly sank below,
But it broke the peaceful silence,
And the water’s gentle flow.

Then the splash became a ripple,
That extended far and wide,
‘Till its ever spreading current
Touched the banks on either side.

And I idly started thinking….
It was so akin to life,
For one word, unwisely spoken,
May stir up so much strife.
If a stone can stir a river,
From its gentle peace and calm,

So too, a word that’s uttered,
Can create a lot of harm,
And like the rippling water,
It spreads from shore to shore,

To start a million tear-drops,
To close a friendly door.
And no matter who may wish it,
One never may recall,
The words that spread like ripples,
That may cause another’s fall.

For who may stem a river,
Or halt the ocean’s tide,
Or halt the storm that rages,
Across the countryside?

Oh, let he who knows perfection,
Feel free to cast a stone,
Then surely, we may never see,
Another pebble thrown!

—Grace Burford

• Note: [John 8:1-11].