Here is a good prayer: "God guide my speech today. Prompt me to speak only words of kindness and encouragement. Teach me to speak words that bring warmth and courage to others. Put a seal upon my lips so that words of gossip, criticism or pessimism cannot escape from them. Hold my tongue when I am tempted to speak harshly in anger."

Thoughts by the late Rev. Paul Osumi are selected weekly by his family.