In preparation for my sermon this weekend on James 3:1-12 — “The Most Unruly Member of Every Congregation,” I came across these wonderful ditties and tongue-twisters. Enjoy them with your family. May the Lord Jesus Christ receive glory from what we say, as well as what we don’t say.
Delightful Ditty
Somewhere on a lonely hill in an English country churchyard stands a drab, gray slate tombstone. The ancient stone bears a telling epitaph:
Beneath this stone, a lump of clay,
lies Arabella Young,
Who on the twenty-fourth of May,
began to hold her tongue.
Wise MaximIf your lips would keep from slips, Five things observe with care: To whom you speak; of whom you speak; And how, and when, and where. —William Norris
One-Line Tongue TwistersSam’s shop stocks short spotted socks.
Shy Shelly says she shall sew sheets.
Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
Many an anemone sees an enemy anemone.
Don’t pamper damp scamp tramps that camp under ramp lamps.
She sifted thistles through her thistle-sifter.
A bloke’s back bike brake block broke.
Lily ladles little Letty’s lentil soup.
The epitome of femininity.
Six slippery snails, slid slowly seaward.
Cows graze in groves on grass which grows in grooves in groves
A Few of My OwnTwo tongues twisting truth try tested truth-tellers.
True tongues telling truth tame testy tale-bearers.
Relevant Reggie rails relentlessly, ruining relations, running recklessly.
Willie Wonka wants willing workers, wanting wisdom Wonka waits.
Slippery Sandy sings sour songs, sports sappy symbols, speaks sinful sayings; Sample Schtick?: Slick, sick, slack, and slinking spin spam, seek simple sad-sac seekers.