Words Matter

Did you ever hear this or tell it to one of your kids or hear this from one of your parents?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

I wonder what would come up if we put that into Snoops or Truth or Fiction. Apparently, the world has changed because this is no longer true. Here is a little advice I think we could all live with once spoken by a wise man.

Do not let any unwholesome, mean or hateful talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.

Words matter. I must have really thick skin or just don’t care because I have had “friends” on Facebook call me and label me as racist, ignorant, stupid, dumb and a f---ing idiot. Wait a minute, did I say these were my “friends” calling me these names. Really? Wow I know for a fact if my kids (and probably your kids) growing up called kids in their class these names it would not have been a good day for them. I know I can tell you from personal experience when I was a kid what a bar of Ivory soap tasted like because I called a neighbor girl stupid.

Words matter. There was a wise man who once said “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” Here in Northern California we saw a downed power line create a small spark on Oct 6th and start a fire that took 23 lives, burned 250,000 acers and destroy over 8,700 structures before it was contained 19 days later. I think the analogy is pretty accurate. So… let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Let’s help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault with your words. Another wise man once said “Fools find no pleasure in understanding what another thinks but delights in airing their own opinions.”

I know words hurt people because my words I have posted in Facebook have hurt my wife and I am sorry. These words were not words directed to harm people I don’t even know, but to people who I love, respect and care about and I thought my opinion or my words were more important than potentially hurting people. I am sorry if my words have ever hurt you. As most, if not all of you know, I profess to be a Christian and with these words I ask for your forgiveness. If you have not figured it out, all the wise men I have quoted come from the Bible. Let us all try to edify, lift up, support, and love with our words. My challenge to everyone is to do this one day and then the next and then the next until it becomes a habit. I know that is a big challenge because they say it can take as few as 18 days to form a habit but could take as many as 254 days. I commit to you all I am going to do my best to form a habit of positive words.

I know words are important and powerful, maybe that was why Jesus name before he came to earth was THE WORD.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

#Relationships #Paradigm #Healing #Change