Our Words Matter
When I was growing up, my friends and I had this little saying that we would say whenever someone said something mean or unkind to us. It went like this, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This saying was our little way of letting the person know that we didn’t really care what they had just said to us. I remember how often and quickly we would say this saying. It would roll off our tongues without us even thinking about it. But no matter how many times we said it, that little saying was not true. Words do matter. And words do hurt.
The Bible is very clear about the power of our words. In Proverbs 18:21, it states that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Words create. Therefore, we should choose our words carefully. The words that we say to others and the words that we say personally to ourselves matter. Words make a huge difference in our lives. Our words can either bring peace or stir up confusion. We should make a habit of pausing before we speak. We should choose words that create warmth and unity. We should choose words that inspire. Our words should encourage. Our words should build up and not destroy.
I wrote an entire chapter about the importance of our words in my book, Heartset More Than Mindset. Our words reflect what lies in our hearts. Our intentions are delivered with a message to the receiver that is either inviting or alarming. Therefore, we must be cognizant of our word choices and our tone of voice to minimize a misunderstanding that can lead to a violent conflict and encounter.
Our words have power. So, let’s practice stopping and thinking before we speak so that we can choose words that bless others and not hurt them. Let’s make it a habit to speak words that encourage others and ourselves every day. Let’s always make sure that our words are inspired by love and not hate!
Surrender Your Hate! Let Life Live!
Peace ∞ Love always wins.