WORDS
WORDS
Happy Halloween! That is what a lady from work said to me. We were at my husband’s funeral right before October 31st. She came through the line of family and when she got to me, she said she did not know what to say. So, she said happy Halloween. I could see my daughter out of the corner of my eye and I will never forget the look she gave the lady who said that to me.
Was that appropriate? What should she have said or maybe she should have just given me a hug and not said anything? Do words really matter? There is a saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” I have found that not to be true. Sometimes a person will say something that pierces my heart. I am sure that we, including myself, have said things that we shouldn’t have. Things that have hurt others. Things that “kinda fell out of our mouths” my mother use to say. Maybe we did not realize that we had said something that hurt another.
I am going to list several scriptures here and I want you to answer those questions based on them. And I will tell you three times that words have been said about or to me.
- James 3:1-12 “…For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body… Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things…the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell…It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God…My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” The job I retired from; I was a receptionist at an animal hospital. A man called to check on his pet, wanting to talk to the doctor, who happened to be in surgery with another pet. I told him she would call him back after she was done. He did not like that answer and started cussing at me. I was not looking forward to seeing him at the end of the day when he would come back to pick up his pet. But he called back and what he said will be something I will always remember and helped me to deal with other clients who were cranky. He said I was the first person that he talked to after he found out his wife had stage four cancer. He apologized. He did not have the right to cuss at me. His words were sinful. But we have to live in this world. After that when someone started cussing at me, I told them they should not talk to me in that way and I learned to hang up. (By the way, most clients never acted like this man did. I actually, through the years working there, became good friends with clients and was able to talk to help some who were going through the same type of trials I had gone through.)
- Ecclesiastes 10:20 “do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11 “for we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.” When I was going through some of the trials in my life, my husband was not able to work. He had applied for disability retirement from the post office and while we were waiting for it to go through, the post office did not pay him at all. This was a period of seven months. The church was helping us financially. A dear friend came to me and said there was a rumor going around, that I was using some of the money, the church was giving us, to give to my daughter and her husband. That was absolutely not true! I asked my friend to tell whoever was spreading that, to “unspread” it! I did not ask who it was that was spreading that untruth, nor did I want to know. It hurt my heart that someone would say that about me. I have always been thankful for my friend who told me and asked me about that gossip.
- Ecclesiastes 3:7b “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” The lady who told me happy halloween at my husband’s funeral, should have kept silence. The fact that she was there, told me that she cared but her mouth spoke when it should have kept silent.
Let’s look at some ways that the tongue (mouth) can be used for the good and I will tell you three ways the mouth has enriched my life.
- Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” When my husband was so sick, I was working two jobs and at one point I was working three jobs. Thank the good Lord, I was younger back then! There were so many times I was so weary of all the stress and the busyness during that time. I remember going to church services, when I was so weary, and there always seemed to be a Christian sister or brother who knew exactly the right type of encouragement I needed. Either by what they said or sometimes, I just a needed hug. Thank you to all those who were there for me!
- This is the last words in the book of Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!” One of the ways I have been able to “stand” the trials I have gone thru, is to start thinking and speaking, all the goodness of my God. There have been so many times that all I could see was the negative in a situation. But when I started seeing the blessings in the situation, I could feel that negativity coming out of my heart! I could center my heart once again on the greatness of God and His promises! Thank you, God, that you will always be by my side and that one day I will be in heaven with You if I have obeyed and kept His laws.
- Psalm 125:2 “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.” This verse is talking about when the Israelites came back from Babylonian captivity. They were so thankful to the Lord and they laughed and sang. I wish I could sing well. Because of covid, our church met together with technology since we could not gather in person. I remember singing out loud. My sons dog raised his head up, turned his head, and got up and went into the other room. Even though I hurt dogs with my singing, I have always loved music. There are songs that have helped me through the emotions of my husband’s death and when my mother passed away. There are songs that just make me happy and able to uplift my spirit for the day. During those rough years, my daughter was in her teens. My older grandkids were small. I remember that they could uplift my spirit by words they said or activities they were in. Proverbs 17:22 says “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”’
So, what am I trying to say here? Words do matter! If you realize that you have said something you shouldn’t, talk to that person. Be sure to forgive yourself and start from today to pay more attention to what you say. Maybe, saying nothing is what a person needs. Be there for them and just listen or just be there by their side. Even though something makes you angry, hold your tongue. Don’t give yourself over to sin. But on the other hand, words can make a huge difference in a person’s life. Just look at the many people today, who were not encouraged as a child. They were made to feel they were of no value or not loved. Encourage others with your words. Let them see your light shining for the Lord!
Words! How are you using them? It will determine whether you go to heaven or hell one day when you die. Think about it! Words are important!
Till next time!
Keela