The story is told about a king whose only cure was to drink the milk of a lioness. Great rewards of prestige, fame and fortune were offered for this daunting task.

One man, both brave, wise, and courageous decided to go to Africa for the sole purpose of milking a lioness.

Protective was she with her little cubs, but daily he would throw them meat.

In time the lioness learned to trust this man.

Eventually he milked her and was off on his way.

Feeling mighty proud of the wise courageous and brave feat all his limbs began an argument as to who deserves the credit.

“It is I” said the feet for I brought to Africa.

“No it is I” said the hands for milking the lioness.

“It is I” said the heart for I was courageous.

“No No, it was I said the mind” for the entire plan was conceived by me

“It is I” said the tongue.

They all joined in bales of hysterical laughter.

“You, why you did nothing at all!”

“Soon we shall see who is most powerful.”

Arriving at the Palace the man – quite emotionally weary from his internal schizophrenia – comes to the king.

Ushered he is in, and the king weekly arises and makes a humble bow looking eagerly at his salvation.

Your majesty I have traveled to Africa – and here the tongue desires to prove her power took over – and have milked a dog for you.

“A dog” shouted the king for in his fury he was strengthened.

Throw this dog to the dogs he shouted. As he was being dragged all the limbs quaking in their skin cried out ‘You are right, save us, save us.”

“No problem” replied the tongue.

And speak he did “Please go back and tell the king that I had not finished my sentence

I meant to say the lioness was as tame as a dog!”

Immediately the executioners retuned to the king and relayed the message.

Overjoyed the king embraced the brave courageous wise man and richly rewarded him.

The moral of the story is that nothing is as powerful as the tongue.

As king Solomon – a truly wise man writes – life and death are in the tongue.