"Sticks and stones may break my bones but your words will never hurt me!"
We all know this is not true. How often have you wielded words as a weapon and later regretted it? How often have you had words lobbed at you that maimed? Sticks and stones really might break bones and even cause scars, but careless or cruel words pierce the heart and can hurt so deeply and for so long that one would rather the wounds be physical. Angry , self-righteous words can be the worst, especially if one is slinging them around as the "words of God". Speaking or writing truth without love often inflicts the deepest wounds and instead of bringing others to the knowledge of God , or causing them to seek Him , these words do the opposite. "Words- so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them."
Nathaniel Hawthorne I decided to quote those more qualified than I in the use of words to encourage their proper use. Remember, words can be very powerful, use them carefully!
"Words in haste do friendships waste." Mark Twain
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa
"A harsh word stirs up anger..." Proverbs 15:1
"A soothing tongue is a tree of life." Proverbs 15:4
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."
Proverbs 25:19
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord." Psalm 19:14
11 comments:
I love all the quotes that you use when you are posting a special message. It is a good message for this week when everyone is returning to school, and is under stress. Good reminder for me!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful verses and quotes Kathy.
This is so true, Kathy. Pain caused by spoken or written words often lasts much longer and cuts much deeper than a physical wound. Good advice to listen to.
Great quotes, and a good subject to 'ruminate' on. How many times I have wished I could take back something I say to my kids. Words can encourage or tear down. I'm learning to say less and think more:)
Deb
Great minds think alike!!!
I posted about this VERY adage here:
http://keethastuff.blogspot.com/2009/10/sunday-reruns-what-you-talkin-about.html
Kathy....
GOOD advice! I love the quotes and scripture you've added.
I've recently been hurt to the core by something my sister in law wrote to me. I would rather take a beating than have conflict.
Each of us needs to watch our words....
Hope you've had a good weekend!
Oh this is so very true..the scars may fade, but the heart may hurt forever.
The quotes and verses are just wonderful, Kathy. Thank you so much for this very helpful post.
Hugs and Blessings,
Lynn♥
~Let FREEDOM Ring!~
I loved Mark Twain - such a wise man. Good reminder post today. I think if we all remember to count to 10 before we speak and think more carefully, we would all be careful w/ our words.
Hello there dearest Kathy,
How true this is and well written with an excellant selection of scripture verses as well! ~ Thanks for sharing this much needed admonishment with us!
..,(I have been out of the office taking such much needed vacation, 'R. and R.' time); yet I wanted to thank you so very much also for partaking with last week's little tea parties!..,
Your baby 'turkey's in teacups' was absolutely, heartwarmingly adorable, at several stages of growth to adulthood!
Thanks so much for for sharing this beyond darling post with us, as well as being a precious part of our, Tuesday Tea For Two' and 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday'; 'Tuesday Tea Time In Blogland", experience dear lady!..,
I always love having you join us!
Cheers and hugs from Wanda Lee
@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com
and also
@ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com
well put - I have often caused myself and others more pain by the things which escape my lips! I love the internet because I have time to edit my thinking a bit!
Oh, so true, Kathy! Cruel words haunt decades later and cause scars for life. It's one thing when children do it, they are, after all, children but when adults do it, it's tragic and the rifts may never be healed. Even more tragic is when those hurtful adults claim to be Christians...tragic!
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