I recently lost a Silly String battle to a 9-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. Outnumbered 2-1, and completely unarmed, I didn’t stand a chance.

After two cans of Silly String had been emptied, the youngest child said, “OK, let’s put it back in!” The rest of us laughed because we knew something that he didn’t. You can’t put it back in. Just like when toothpaste comes out of the tube, once it’s out, it’s out.

We all have wished that we could take back words that we have said. But once they’re out, they’re out. Words spoken in anger can never be unspoken. Thoughtless, hurtful statements cannot be taken back as if they were never uttered.

Sometimes forgiveness is granted from those we have offended. But the hurt remains. Relationships may never be what they once were. Respect and trust are difficult to regain once they have been lost.

It’s no wonder that the Bible often warns us about the potential harm that can come from an uncontrolled tongue. It’s much easier to refrain from harmful speech in the first place than to try to clean up the mess afterwards.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”—Proverbs 21:23.