I’m sure that each and every one of us was taught as a child that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. In the classic children’s movie “Bambi,” Thumper even repeats, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”
There are other sayings that have a similar meaning:
I’m sure that each and every one of us was taught as a child that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. In the classic children’s movie “Bambi,” Thumper even repeats, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”
• Bite your tongue.
• It’s better to bite your tongue than to eat your words.
• Be careful with your words; they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.
• Keep your lips sealed.
Unfortunately, we don’t always remember this lesson taught us from early on. Other times, we don’t realize what we are saying before it comes out of our mouths. Or it sounds better in our head than when it comes out. We say things we don’t mean. And too often, our words hurt other people.
I have heard several stories recently about how people have been wounded by words that other people said to them. I, too, have been wounded in the past by the words people have said to me. Sadly, “wounded” is the word that has been consistently used. That is truly what words can do. Words can wound us deeply whether they are said thoughtlessly, carelessly, or intentionally. Unfortunately, such wounds stay with us. We can sincerely forgive the one who spoke the words. We can move forward and continue to work with that person. But we carry the wounds with us, and sometimes those wounds can change our lives completely. Envision nailing a nail into a board. You can always remove the nail, but the hole remains. The wound remains.
So, back to that lesson we were taught as children. We really need to stop and to think about our words before we use them. We need to ask ourselves some questions before we speak. Is it necessary to speak? Is it better to keep our opinion to ourselves? How might these words harm? How can we clearly communicate what we mean so that our words do not bring about harm?
As it says in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.”
Pastor Beth
920-562-2853
pastorbmacha@yahoo.com
