One of the sayings we were raised with is today, with hindsight, totally wrong.
Listen to this line and see if you agree with me, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words cannot hurt me.’ Words have amazing power to build or break us. Some of us recall a careless comment made many years ago, words that wounded and even killed something in you, a comment by a parent, a teacher or even a total stranger.
Words either written or spoken, have the power to change people’s lives. ‘You are stupid’ or ‘you are lazy’ are words that can stay with us.
I spent some time digging through my own past, recalling things people have said to me and the influence those words have had on my life.
But then reality set in and I started to think about things I have said to people that may have caused pain.
Careless and prayer less words from my unguarded lips, words that cannot be withdrawn and damage I never can fix.
This frightening thought has made me doubly careful of every word I will speak today. Just imagine the regret if words out of my mouth or yours would cause just one person to go into eternity without God.
Matt 12:36-37, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken …”
May God forgive us for the hurt each one of us has caused with our lips.
May God also help us to forgive those who have hurt us with careless words.
