I didn't mean it!

Faith & Inspiration

By Charles Towne

We have all heard that classic children’s ditty, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”

Having heard it, do we believe it? Of course you don’t. Anyone with a scintilla of common sense knows that words spoken out of anger or malice can hurt as much as the stroke of a knife, or the blow of a fist. How many friendships have been dealt a death-blow by words spoken out of turn?

Think about it, have you ever had anything said about you that hurt your feelings?

Have you ever had something said about you that was true, and you wished that whatever it was hadn’t been said? I have, and believe me, even though it was true, it hurt.

Word has it that there are well over a million words in the English language, with more coming into use all of the time.

I love words. Being something of a wordsmith myself I find there is something magical going on with this crazy lingo of ours.

Take poetry for instance: there is the ridiculous, the profane, and the mundane. Just imagine the imagery that can be painted with words.

Think of the bard's sonnets, or Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s work. How would you write a love letter to your significant other without these things we call ‘WORDS'?

Yes, words can draw people together, or separate them.

Small though they be, we communicate every human emotion with words and yet often, too often, we use words carelessly, without consideration of the harm that might be done.

As an example of the power of words, let us examine just three for the power they convey. No relationship - be it a friendship, a business relationship, a parent-child relationship, or that sacred relationship between a husband and wife - can long endure the negative affects of these words, or the actions they often set into motion.

What are these words?

Criticism.

Complaining.

Condemning.

Yes, these three - or should I say, the actions they produce - we should avoid at all cost.

But, there are three more words, and the words and actions that flow from them, that are even more powerful than those first three:

Prove.

Please.

Praise

The first word on my list of strengthening words is prove. Yes, prove that you care. The next one is please. We all like to be pleased don’t we? And then there is that most powerful word that we all love as well: Praise. We are told to praise God, and if our praises please the Father, how far will our sincere praises go with our fellow man?

Dear and Holy God, please help us that we may bring you honor and glory with our words. We love you, oh Holy One, and we come to you now and ask that you work your perfect will in each one of us. Help each of us to prove our love to you. Help us to please you with each word that comes out of our mouths, and each word in our thoughts. And help us to learn to praise you in perfection and holiness. Thank you Father. In Jesus' Holy name we ask it, Amen

Live fully,

Love openly,

And make a difference, Today.

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adopted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy-filled life.