Who writes this stuff?

My photo
I try to keep my priorities in order: Jesus, my Andy, our children, everything else. I homeschool our boys, love to read almost all written words and have been challenged by the military life for 18 years. Right now my faulty human body is demanding a lot of attention. One day at a time, learning as much as possible every day and remembering to look for JOY when other things threaten to overwhelm.

My Blog Title Verse

"For the Lord gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
The Message translation puts it this way "God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding."


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Be careful with the power you wield

"May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 

There are so many ways to use words.

 Puzzles, like crosswords and searches. Acrostics - like one of my favorites: JOY= Jesus, Others, Yourself
Playing games like Scrabble or Boggle. Giving directions and explaining how things work.

 Words are in books, in song, in games, in more digital formats then I can think to describe, including this blog right here.

 But I think that perhaps the most important is still the spoken word.

 Our voice includes emotion. It rises and falls. It gives clues to what we are thinking, meaning, trying to communicate. It is so very full.

 I have struggled with words in the last few weeks.

 More appropriately, I have been disappointed by words.

Words have been spoken that hurt. Words have been written that discouraged.


 I must admit that when the hurtful words were spoken, about someone that I love, my first instinct was to strike back. For just a split second I could almost envision myself smacking someone.
 That is a huge admission for me to make, and explains how very upset I was, because I normally don't have a violent bone in my body.
 Instead, I simply carried on with the conversation. Because here is the kicker - the person who said the hurtful words didn't even know they were hurtful. They say them so often, without thinking, without considering the feelings of others, that they had no idea I was crying inside.

 Later, I got to cry on the outside, but it still left me discouraged. And wondering what to do.

 Words - such power.

 When Bin Laden was killed there was celebrating in the streets and many, many words about the situation. Within minutes Facebook was covered with comments.
 As a military wife, I couldn't help but feel relief that a military target had been found, that a goal of the armed forces had been accomplished. Some fear that fighting would be stronger in retaliation, but relief also.
 However, celebrating death, of anyone, is beyond my comprehension.

 But I watched the words flow. In one part of FB, among friends who don't know Jesus, there was lots of hate. In another realm, among my Christian friends, a round of bickering about who was right about celebrating the death of an enemy- quoting different scripture and arguing God's take on the death of a man that none of them had ever met. As if any of us know the mind of God.

 I only knew my own feelings. My disappointment, and discouragement, in words.

 So I have been stewing over my words, and praying about my words, and trying to spend some time in The Word.

 I can't say I have any answers. I just know that words have power. Power to lift up, or tear down. Power to encourage or to crush someone's last hope. Power to share unfailing, unending love, or to show hate that frightens to the core. Yes, words have power. I am taking that very, very seriously.

                                               As always, Blessings,

3 comments:

autumnesf said...

I heard a sermon once on how many times the Bible tells us to watch our tongue and such ....it was huge. So huge that you HAVE to know He is serious about the power of words.

Our family did celebrate the meeting of the goal we have sought for over ten years with a plate of wings. We also celebrated our leader stepping up and actually leading for once. We did not glorify or celebrate the fact that it ended with a shot in the eye. That is morbid. Even if I wasn't a Christian I don't think I could actually celebrate on that level. But I do admit that I have no problem with the fact that others did. That is their heart and I just don't go there.

So sorry you were hurt by words! Hope you feel a little better soon.

Carrie said...

I am a failure I guess because my kids don't have a clue what is going on in the world. When do I have to start telling them? :(

Kristina said...

It never ceases to amaze me how words can hurt. I can remember things said to me back in elementary school that made me either happy or sad. How can we think that our words wont have an effect on others. I have not been very good at watching my temper in the past- a trait I am afraid I share with Anne Shirley, something that I struggle with daily. I only hope that God forgives me for my tongue and those I have hurt!