Mind Your Language

The things we say often have a greater impact on others than any actions we might take. Words are powerful tools for those who speak them; they can uplift or diminish, heal wounds or create lasting scars, shatter dreams or help fulfill destinies. The words you choose can significantly affect the lives of the people you encounter. What kind of words are you known for?

The Sharp Tongue

Whenever Anita walked into a room, she could kill all the warmth and laughter in the air with her sarcastic and nasty remarks. She always had something unpleasant to say about everything and everyone. No matter how hard you tried, she would find the perfect words to run down your efforts and make you look like a complete fool. It was no wonder that her husband, who had had it up to his neck with her nagging and harsh criticisms, recently moved out of their house to give himself a breather.

Proverbs 12:18 tells us that “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing”. We need to apply the same degree of care to the words we speak as we do to our driving, or we may end up causing some emotional accidents with our tongues.

The Talebearer

“The words of a talebearer are as wounds and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (Proverbs 26:22).

It’s quite astonishing how some people always seem to know everything happening in the lives of others. Not only are they adept at gathering the latest gossip, but they also have a talent for embellishing the stories they share. There are two main reasons to be cautious around such individuals.

Firstly, you should take everything they say with a grain of salt, as you can never be sure which parts of the conversation have been altered or exaggerated. Secondly, if you confide in them, your secrets could quickly become the talk of the town.

The danger of being around these people is that, if you are not careful and discerning, they can easily create false impressions in your mind about others. Unintentionally, you might start believing their narratives and responding to someone based on what you heard from the gossip, rather than on your own experience. However, the individual in question may never have said or done what was claimed.

The Vision Killer

“Don’t you think you’d be better off just selling fabrics?” This was a suggestion from a friend after Tracy made an outfit for her. However, it ultimately crushed Tracy’s lifelong dream of becoming a fashion designer. The more she thought about those words, the more incompetent she felt. As a result of that offhand remark, her tailoring shop shut down, and now she finds herself pursuing an administrative job that neither brings her joy nor fulfillment.

Each of us is uniquely created with special skills, potentials, and talents. We all cope with problems and projects in different ways. When expressing our opinions about someone else’s personality, work, or ideas, our words must be helpful and constructive, rather than discouraging or damaging.

Foul Talk

You are ten minutes late for an important job interview at one of the leading oil companies in the country. It’s bad enough that you are stuck in the middle of a traffic jam, then from nowhere, some reckless bus driver comes along to cause confusion on the road and delay you even further. The next thing you hear coming out of your mouth to the bus driver is, ‘Are you crazy? What kind of idiot are you? You must be a really big fool.’

When we use strong language, it’s easy to justify our words by saying we were provoked, angry, or irritated, or that the other person was clearly in the wrong. But do these excuses hold any weight before God? According to Him, our tongues are meant for praise and for everything noble, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8). The tongue should not be used for cursing, swearing, or any form of obscenity. As it is written, “With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praising and cursing. My brothers, this should not be” (James 3:9-10).

 The Sensitive Speaker

“There is a time for everything and a season for everything under heaven…a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7).

I can’t count the number of times I’ve said something to a friend or relative and immediately regretted it. Often, we speak too quickly, blurting out what’s on our minds without thinking. However, a truly wise person considers the consequences of their words before speaking. A wise speaker is sensitive to the moods, temperaments, and feelings of those they are conversing with. They know the right words to say at the right time. A sensitive speaker understands when to give a gentle response, when to offer a stern rebuke, when to bring up a topic, and when to let bygones be bygones.

The Encourager

Everything that mattered to this woman had been taken from her. Her husband, her sons, and her hopes and dreams for the future were all gone. Her first daughter-in-law had just left, and the second would probably leave at any moment, leaving her as a poor, lonely, and empty woman with no one in the world to turn to.

To her utmost surprise, Ruth, her daughter-in-law, drew near, held her hands tightly, and said, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God…” (Ruth 1:16-17).

Ruth was trying to tell Naomi, her mother-in-law, not to give up or lose hope. The fact that Naomi had lost her husband and sons didn’t mean her life was over. It didn’t mean she was a failure or had nothing good to offer anyone. Ruth was saying, “I love you for who you are, not for what I can get from you. You are special to me, and I can’t walk away from you.”

Those words made all the difference for Naomi. They were warmer and more comforting than any hug could provide. They made her feel valued and special, helping her shift her focus from her situation to God. They restored her hope and provided her the strength to wipe away her tears and start living again.

People everywhere are struggling with various fears and pains. The words we speak hold significant power. They can either lead someone to despair or inspire them to become a person of relevance and value. Therefore, we should daily surrender our words to the Lord, ensuring that what we say builds others up rather than tearing them down, making us true sources of joy and blessing.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: creationswap