How does the saying go? Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can’t hurt me.
Wrong!
Words can hurt. They can cut deep. Words have power for good and for bad. You are lying if you say you have never been hurt by something someone said about you.
Measure your words carefully. Think before you speak. Some things are best left unsaid. We have freedom of speech. But just because you can say something does not mean you should say it.
There are destructive patterns of speech that we may not even be aware of at the time. Some of these destructive patterns include:
- Gossip – is described in Proverbs 18:8 as delicious morsels that go down in the inner part of the body.
- Innuendo – A close cousin of gossip; to infer something about someone without actually saying it.
- Flattery – This is saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind their back.
- Criticism – A favorite among Christians, to make us feel good about ourselves.
- Diminishment – A close cousin to criticism, this is when we continually trivialize, minimize, and find fault in another person, effectively demoralizing them.
Another way speech has become increasingly destructive in our culture is the way we interact with each other in online forums. Visit a social media site or the comments section on an online news article. It will be full of destructive rhetoric. The conversation is rarely filled with intellectual and enlightening debate. Rather, you are likely to find disparaging comments and insults. People often say things online that they would never say face-to-face with a person.
Proverbs remind us, “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults.” (Proverbs 9:7) Arguing with someone does not solve anything. Just walk away. It is not worth it.
As I shared, words have power. Look for ways to use your words to build up and encourage. What can you share today that would be beneficial to someone else? Offer a compliment. Share some appreciation. Let them know you value them.
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