Words that Hurt; Words that Heal

 

It shouldn’t be hard to remember the last time someone gave you an unexpected compliment because rare moments like those have a tendency to brighten your day each time they are remembered.

On the other hand, do you remember the last time someone’s thoughtless comments cut deeply and hurt your heart to the core? Chances are you remember that very vividly as well, even if it happened a long time ago. And yet, people frequently do this to their family or friends without realizing it. I once heard a mother say to her young son, “Carl, You are soooooo bad!” and continued on with what she was doing as if she had given him a loving compliment.

Thoughtless phrases that are meant to be humorous can crush an ego and lower a person’s self esteem. Are you guilty of using negative phrases like, “You’re not as dumb as you look” or “You’re a lousy . . . you know” or “Go on. We don’t need your silly face around here”? Maybe you need to fill in the blank with your own pet phrase. And yet, in Matthew 12:36 Jesus said, “And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.” NAS

Perhaps you should ponder the following question. Ask yourself: “If I decide to make sure everything I say is edifying and good, would the people around me see a dramatically different person? Would they whisper to each other: ‘What’s happened to her’? or ‘I wonder what’s gotten into him! He‘s being so nice!’?

Memorize and put into practice Ephesians 4:29b, “ . . . say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to and what will give them a blessing.” TLB Then ask God to help you make your words pleasant, untarnished gifts to those around you.

Make sure all of your words heal rather than hurt!

 

 by Marie Elliott