There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel. (Proverbs 20:15)
A poor man was gathering sticks in the forest to sell in the village. He walked along and his eyes showed misery and suffering. He came to an uprooted tree when something caught his eye. Something shined on the ground. He walked over and bent down to see what it was. There lay a large jewel sparkling in front of him. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life, and knew in his heart that it must be worth a great deal of money.
He put it in his pocket and went home to show it to his wife. His wife agreed that it must be very valuable, but they could not imagine how much it was worth. Everyone he showed the jewel to was amazed by its beauty, but no one knew its true value. No jeweler was prepared to buy it either, for each one said that it was worth far more than he could pay.
The king heard about the poor man’s magnificent jewel and traveled all the way to his hut. Although accustomed to precious things, even he was stunned by this gem. “this stone is fit for a royal crown!” he exclaimed with wonder.
The poor man could not have imagined how this find would change his entire life. The king showered him with gifts; and money and invited him to his court. Yet the poor man never did find out the exact value of his find, though he reaped much benefit from it.
The power and value of speech is often beyond measure. A person who uses his gift of speech for what it was created possesses a very precious gem. Such speech enhances the word and action of Torah (Scriptures) It reveals the holiness and spirituality of the everything around us, and in that way, such speech has value beyond imagination.
By studying the Holy Books and then putting the lessons of faith into practice it raises the level of holiness and spirituality of life. Most people lack the deep piety found in great religious leaders and teachers of the past, but that the world is improved by the positive speech of everyday people. They are a treasure whose value no one can rightly estimate or appreciate!
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)