Sticks and Stones

 "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me; what ever you say to me, bounces off of me and sticks on to you".

I don't know why this came to mind today, but it did. As an adult I think back to that and actually listen, not just hear, but listen to these words and think, what a bunch of crock. This is one of life's biggest lies that we are taught when very young. First of all, yes, sticks and stones can break bones; that's not exactly the lie I speak of; "words can never hurt me". That is a lie. Words CAN and DO hurt. And, to some degree, that fact is proven with the last phrase of this saying; "what ever you say to me, bounces off of me and sticks on to you". Well, if words didn't hurt, we wouldn't have to have them bounced off and sent back. There would be no need to have that protection statement.

Words are a powerful thing. They have the power to degrade and the power to lift up; the power to hurt and the power to heal; the power to educate and the power to spread ignorance. Words can fuel the flames of hate or extinguish hate with love. Words can be a cancer or they can be a cure. Everyone has the power through the written and spoken word to motivate and inspire or to hinder and depress. Which is stronger: the written word or the spoken word? Is there a difference? I guess that would depend on the person and on the words that are written or spoken.

For me, they can both be equally damaging or equally lifting. The written word however, can be changed, deleted, or erased. The spoken word cannot be changed; cannot be deleted; cannot be erased. Once something has been verbally said, it's out there and can never be taken back. The hurt that words can afflict is something that can last generations. Even if an apology followed the hurtful words, nothing changes. Forgiveness can be had, but the words cannot be taken back and the hurt does not simply just go away.

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."  ~ Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians; written in the Bible.

Paul knew the strength and power in the spoken word and wanted to make sure the Ephesians understood this as they embarked in their Christian walk. Christians are to uplift one another because we are the body of Christ and one of many ways to behave as a Christian should, is to not only walk in love but speak in love as well. For God is love and if we are to follow the teachings of Jesus, we are to behave in the love that He has taught and shown. What we say to others can make or break a relationship. The spoken word cannot be retracted no matter how hard we try or want it to.

When God created the universe and everything around it He did so by His spoken word. He SAID it, and it was done. That is how powerful words can be. Sticks and stones can break your bones but words can certainly kill you. Speak love; speak life.