Rev. Richard Smith
Proverbs 12:18 and 15:14
Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (NRSV)
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. (Message)
=====================================================================
I’ve said it; you’ve said it; we’ve all heard it…Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
Well, that’s a nice pithy statement but it’s not true; as you so well know. The fact is words have lots of power.
Words can heal or words can hurt.
Words can encourage or words can discourage.
Words can build up or words can tear down.
Here are some insights regarding the words we speak.
We Need to Avoid Gossip
As I understand it, gossip is passing on critical, negative information about another person. I would suggest that the next time we’re tempted to pass on some gossip, some negative information about another person, we ask ourselves these questions:
Do I really know for sure that what I’m about to pass on is true?
Even if the information is true, what good is served by passing it on?
What’s my motive for wanting to pass it on? Is my motive healthy?
What would Jesus do?
My guess is that if most of us would ask ourselves these questions as we receive and start to pass on negative information about another person, much gossip would cease; especially among us Christians. This doesn’t mean we don’t speak out against grave injustice and harmful words and actions when necessary, but it does mean we consciously determine what we’re passing on and whether it serves a vital good.
We Need Daily To Speak Kind, Encouraging Words
The texts I’ve listed highlight contrasting types of words. We daily can choose the type of words we speak. We can speak…
Rash words or wise healing words
Cutting words or kind words
Salty, abrasive words or fresh life-giving words
We have a choice every day the type and kinds of words we speak in the workplace, in the home, in the neighborhood, in our relationships, in our daily encounters.
There are few choices we can make in our daily language which are more healing and helpful than encouraging words. I think every Christian should have flowing regularly from our mouths words like these:
Well done!
I’m proud of you.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for that effort!
That made a difference!
I think every single day we have the opportunity to speak those words to someone.
We Need to Keep in Mind Some Essential Words
If I asked you the three most important words one can regularly speak, you most likely would say, “I love you.” Obviously, those are some of the most important words any of us can speak or any of us can hear. I want, however, to suggest a different set of three words we need to have regularly and readily as part of our vocabulary. “I was wrong” or “I am sorry.” It’s amazing the healing which can occur, the anger which can be defused, and the bridges which can be built however deep the hurt when we are willing to speak these words.
There are numerous occasions in our life experiences when the words, “I was wrong” could make all the difference in a relationship. None of us like being wrong, but when we are wrong, admitting it openly can build lots of bridges. Correspondingly, the words, “I am sorry”, can heal wounds and open the door to better connection among persons. There’s not a one of us who doesn’t need to speak these words routinely in a week’s time as we go about our life within the home, within the workplace, within the community.
It’s a mature person who knows he/she ought to speak “I was wrong” or “I am sorry” as an act of caring connection.
