A dad teases his son about being a ‘mama’s boy’ because the son wanted to hang with his mom rather than work in the shop with dad.
A child shames her friend over the fact that the friend’s dad is an alcoholic.
The whispers by a group of women about another woman’s stress-eating waistline expansion reaches the ears and heart of the woman struggling with her weight.
A husband’s words of shame over his wife’s past penetrates her heart deeply.
One person makes fun of another person for the way they talk, the things they say, the place they live, the clothes they wear, the way they smell, the _____________________________________________________. (You fill in the blank)
Words hurt. Words cut. Words shame.
In our world today there is a war on guns, but I think the war we need to be fighting is a war on words. Words have destroyed far more lives than guns ever will. Carelessly flung, hurtful words are like a bullet straight to the heart. It has happened to me, and it has happened to you. I have been the one who pulled the trigger on hurtful words, and so have you.
For many years, I lived by the ‘it’s just how I am’ and ‘I just say what I think’ creeds, never stopping to consider the weight and damage of my words. It took many years of my wise husband calling me out on my words for me to realize the power of them. One of the things that is a pet peeve of mine is hearing others making fun of someone else. HUMOR AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER PERSON IS NEVER FUNNY.
I am reminded of the power of words each time I hear TobyMac’s song entitled, Speak Life. Do you know it? If not, take a moment to listen.
You and I have the power to speak life or death into myriads of situations every single day. Every time a temptation arises to speak death into a situation, we have the opportunity to choose to speak LIFE.
Instead of criticizing, speak encouragement.
Instead of shaming, speak love.
Instead of _______________________________________________, speak _____________________________.
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. James 3:10 (HCSB)
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. James 1:26 (NKJV)
