Words.

When I was in Grade 3 sitting at the back of the classroom, it was clear to my teacher that I wasn’t able to see the board as I should, and shortly after, I became the proud owner of glasses. The thought of wearing them never bothered me much until that Christmas, where a family member laughed and said, “oh they make you look like a nerd.” Now regardless of what the word “nerd” meant to her, that word “nerd” to me meant that I was a loser and I was now someone who was at the hand of others jokes.

It’s interesting that all these years later, I can remember exactly how I felt in my eight-year-old skin, and I can remember how many times I’ve replayed those words over again in my mind. I shrank. I felt like who I was with the glasses on was looked down upon, and insecurity grew deep inside me. That’s what the power of words can do. They can make us believe that we are less than who we are and who we’re supposed to be.

I do know that two of my Aunts piped-up, after the “nerd” comment, with positive acclamations saying I looked “studious” and “smart”. It’s weird how the negative comments stick with us at a heightened level, often much more than the positive words that are said to us. Gah! Why does this happen??

I can experience 100 compliments and receive 1 critical comment and the one negative comment will be what keeps me up at night. Am I alone in this?

We hold the power to spread life and death with the words we speak. But words don’t begin in our mouth…they begin in our thoughts, as an overflow of what’s in our hearts.

Luke 6:45 says, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

And if we believe that this is true, that our hearts birth such power on our tongues, then a regular heart-check and assessment of how our words are landing on those that are receiving them, are critical things to be keeping tabs on as Jesus followers.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” In other words, those who love to talk will bear the fruit of whatever is planted in their hearts.

We can build into ourselves, our circumstance, and others by speaking words that bring life. Words of Truth. Positivity. Hope. Love.

Likewise, we can bring destruction to ourselves and to others, and into a circumstance by bringing ill-spoken, ill-chosen words that have the power to bring great suffering and the resounding power to make others feel less than who God created them to be.

Ultimately, we should feel the weight of the words that we speak to circumstances and to others.

Our words matter.

We have the power to bless.

The power to curse.

We get to choose.

One of the greatest things I’ve realized, as I’ve reflected on where I’ve been careless with my words, is that with the same mouth that I’ve used to bring hurt and negativity, I’ve also been able to return to that person (usually after a divine humbling) and use my words to be part of the healing process. We can’t take back what we’ve dished out. But we can use words to ask forgiveness. To speak Truth. And bring healing..

“…the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18

As we start off another week, my prayer is for my words. That my words would be honouring to the One Who created me. That I would speak life, and love, and draw people closer to Jesus because of the words I choose to use.