Talk Isn't Cheap

I have heard the expression talk is cheap; however, I disagree with that expression.

I am reminded of a young lady's story: Larry Huggins and I were in Northern California in a church located in the Sierra Foothills. As Larry Huggins stood up to minister he said, "Listen, I have a word from the Lord," and then he said, "Elephants and knotholes!"

Before anyone could decide whether to laugh or not to laugh, a woman from the audience screamed and ran toward Larry Huggins. In a trembling voice she said, "Oh my! I told God if He wanted to help me, He had to make you say elephants and knotholes!" Then she explained that because of her obesity her family called her the elephant. These are the words she heard over and over again: is the elephant hungry; elephant come here; time to go to bed, elephant. Those words left her feeling as if she were on the outside of a fence peering through a knothole.

She continued to explain that countless nights as she cried she would pray, "Dear God, I may be an elephant but if You can touch me through this knothole I will be thankful! When she finished speaking not one person in the church had a dry eye.

The words of an insensitive family destroyed a young girl's self-esteem - for her talk wasn't cheap!