St. George Karslides said the following parable:
One time someone went and confessed to a spiritual father and he gave a penance for him to take a chicken and come and find him.
On the way he would pluck the chicken until he took out all the feathers.
Indeed, this is what he did.
When he arrived back to the spiritual father, he said to him:
"Did you plucked it, my child?"
"Yes, Father," he replied, showing him the plucked chicken.
"Very well, now go pick up the feathers and bring them to me."
The man was baffled.
"But how do I collect them? This is impossible!"
"Do you see that you cannot collect them?" the spiritual father told him. "Therefore, next time, pay attention to your words, because once you have uttered them, you cannot pick them up."
On the way he would pluck the chicken until he took out all the feathers.
Indeed, this is what he did.
When he arrived back to the spiritual father, he said to him:
"Did you plucked it, my child?"
"Yes, Father," he replied, showing him the plucked chicken.
"Very well, now go pick up the feathers and bring them to me."
The man was baffled.
"But how do I collect them? This is impossible!"
"Do you see that you cannot collect them?" the spiritual father told him. "Therefore, next time, pay attention to your words, because once you have uttered them, you cannot pick them up."
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.