We know words bite and hurt. Relationships have been brutally damaged. What we recall of someone is something that stung from what they said. Nicknames have demoralized and depressed people.
I had a close personal friend growing up that was given a less-than-flattering nickname by kids older than him to include his brothers. Kids would tease him constantly using this name. I saw the hurt in his face whenever called that name. One day, even though I was his close friend, I called him that name and the hurt in his face was the deepest I had ever seen. Never again would I call him that as I learned my lesson at his expense.
The thing is, I should have known better as I had a nickname too, which to this day I despise and it hurts thinking about the memories I have of growing up with it.
In the book of James (chapter 3:3-8), the tongue is described as a very small part of the body but oh, what power and damage it can inflict. Just as a single spark can cause a great for ...