“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”
…and there goes one of the most popular and well-known lies of all time.
The truth is no matter how much we pretend that words don’t hurt, no matter how hard we try to forget words that people spoke against us, no matter how confident and positive we try to be, when people put us down with their words, it hurts.
You see, the most powerful part of your body is that little tongue inside your mouth. Because what you do with that tongue can damage or help a person more than you know.
It is what you say with that little tongue that has power to bring death or life to a person. (Proverbs 18:21)
That can ruin or make someone’s day.
That can make or break a person.
That can heal a hurt or hurt a heart.
Bruises on your body will heal.
Scars will fade.
But words that hurt your heart are hard to forget.
Words that bring you down are hard to recover from.
Words spoken behind your back about you are hard to forgive.
It really doesn’t matter where the words were spoken after they have been already said because the results are always the same.
How many times have you felt discouraged because someone judged you without getting to know you?
When someone spoke negatively toward you?
When someone said hurtful things behind your back?
We think words are so innocent and can be easily taken back, but they can’t be.
And yet so often we speak without even thinking.
We never take the time to realize how those quick little words we say can hurt a person.
How our inability to hold back unnecessary words, unnecessary gossip, unnecessary judgment can bring a person so much pain.
In Proverbs 31:26 we see a woman who is wise with her words – a woman who opens her mouth only when she has something good to say.
A woman who teaches others to be kind to one another.
A woman who uses her little tongue to bring healing to others, instead of pain.
To bless others instead of curse to them.
To build them up instead of bring them down.
A woman who knows that she will be accountable for every word she speaks so she thinks before a single word leaves her mouth. (Matthew 12:36)
Who spends less time gossiping about others and more time praying for them and encouraging them. (Ephesians 4:29)
She knows that words can hurt more than a knife can so she carefully chooses which one’s she will use. (Proverbs 12:18)
She knows that sometimes it’s better to keep her mouth shut no matter how tempting or juicy the gossip is that she wants to share. (Proverbs 21:23)
She knows that when spoken at just the right time her words can bring more healing to a broken heart than a cast can to a broken bone. (Proverbs 25:11)
So she learns to control that little tongue in her mouth lest it destroy the people in her life.
She learns to only open her mouth if what she says is wise and kind.
If what she says is helpful instead of hurtful.
And today you can do the same.
You can speak kindly to someone who is feeling down and brighten their day.
Or you can speak harshly to them and discourage them in their ways.
You can be that person who helps lift someones burdens with the words you say.
Or you can be that person that makes them feel even more burdened, discouraged, and weighed down.
You can be the person who hurts others with the words you say today or the person who brings healing.
Which person will you choose to be?
My challenge to you and I is to learn from this woman in Proverbs 31.
That just like her our words are spoken with kindness and wisdom.
That we will bring healing instead of hurt.
That we will learn to practice some self-control.
That we will make a positive difference in someone’s life today with the words we choose to say or the words we choose to remain unsaid.
May God give you the wisdom to know which one to do when.
Be blessed and use your words wisely today! Anna… ♥
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
As always, great post! I really enjoyed it and it helped me to remember to use my words wisely. Thanks Anna!
Thanks Hannah! (I’m still not used to not calling you Adelina) 😉 May you always use your words wisely (you are a wise maiden after all, I think it should come easily to you) 😉 Be blessed!
Reblogged this on Lovener W. and commented:
It always amazes me how we downplay critical things in our lives and while we have felt their effects in our own experience, we abide with notions that put out because they “sound nice” or we hope they are true. The reality is that words hold power. That’s why blogging matters, writing matters, conversation and communication matters. Words do matter. Check out this Blog from one of my favorite Blogs “A Journey of Faith”
Words are powerful and your words are uplifting. I’m going to challenge myself to say something to brighten someone’s day. I know how a simple “Good morning, how are you?” can make someone feel good.
They really are, sometimes we forget how much they can influence people. And that’s a great challenge! Even a few words spoken out of love and kindness can make the biggest difference in someone’s day!
If only everyone stopped to think before they speak words that might hurt someone else; the world would be a much better place! Great post 🙂
I agree. So much unnecessary pain would be prevented if only people learned to stop and think before they spoke. It’s a struggle we all have but with God’s help we can learn to only speak words that will glorify Him and bless others!
Great Posts!
Know what I thought as a read this? What an amazing blessing that the Bible speaks to much and so well to women! Especially as it was penned in a time in which women were some of the least important people around! Thanks for this reminder through your post Anna!
Wow. That’s a great point (that I’ve never really thought about). The Bible really doesn’t have too much written specifically for women, especially at that time (which is probably why the Proverbs 31 woman is so well-known). The cool thing is that although it was written for a different culture and a different time it is still so relevant today and we can learn to apply many of these character traits into our own lives in a way that fits us today. 🙂
Yes! Proverbs 31 is amazing in the way it speaks directly to women, but there is also a lot about the hearts and value of women in stories like those of Ruth, Mary and Deborah. Even Song of Solomon speaks a lot about the hearts of women, and I think we can learn a lot about our nature through Eve and her curse. Like the NT says, the Bible is like a mirror in which we can see ourselves and our nature. Thanks so much for following my blog too!
Reblogged this on More Than Just Me and commented:
Beautiful lyrics.
Great Post Anna. I will be reblogging it! Have an awesome day.
Thank you Erin. Hope you had a lovely day!!
Reblogged this on Just Thinking Aloud and commented:
Great Post on the power of words…
Words matter. Thanks for reminding me just how much! 🙂
\o/
No problem Tami. 🙂 Be blessed!!
I really needed this reminder. I guess I can be a little judgmental sometimes. I need to think more about how other people feel instead of merely justifying myself. God’s word instructs us to stay humble and to think before we speak. Thanks for sharing these truths. God bless!
It’s definitely easy to justify the words we say about others but I think if we only stopped to think about how we would feel if those same words (if they are judgmental even to some extent) were said about us then we would realize that no matter how “justifiable” those words seem, they are not worth saying (and hurting someone in the process.)
With the help of the Holy Spirit though I think we can all learn to think before we speak and stop passing judgment on others with our words!
Thank you so much for this post. It was so touching!