When you think of the word “weapon,” what comes to mind? A handgun? An AR-15? A knife? A bazooka? (Do they still make those?)
What if I told you that we all have a dangerous weapon and we have the potential to use it EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I read, A LOT, and one of the things I read is a daily email called The Gospel Daily from thegospeldaily.com. It’s a motivational piece every day related to a scripture reading. It’s hit or miss for me: Some days I don’t get anything from it but there are other days when it can really make you stop and think.
Recently there was a commentary written by Anna Pachaud and here’s how it begins.
“Our tongue is probably one of the most intricate weapons ever made. It can trigger some pretty amazing results at any giver time. It can hurl insults from out of nowhere, it can pierce a heart from any distance, it can knock out a person’s self-esteem in a flash, and it can blow apart relationships at lightning speeds.”
Wow! Pretty powerful.
Can you relate? Like many of us, I’ve been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh words over the years. And I’ll admit it: I’m also guilty of hurting people with my words at times. I’m trying to get better. I know I said some things when the children were young that I regretted the next morning. I was caught up in the stress of work and family and out of frustration, or exhaustion, I didn’t think twice before my outburst.
Words can hurt. And while you might think a handgun is more dangerous and deadly, harsh words can have a long-lasting effect. Deadly? Well I suppose it could start someone down a dark path.
Why do we do it? Must we criticize or condemn? Why do people feel the need to be hurtful? Are we so insecure that we must find ways to point out, “I’m better than you! You suck! You’re useless!” And don’t get me started on the recent hate speech.
Anna goes on to say:
“Learn to walk away in the heat of the moment. Pray about the words that come out of your mouth. Remember that once your words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. The hurt inflicted by your tongue can last a lifetime so be very careful about what you say.”
I’ve met many people in my life and some of my favorite memories have been the time I spent with positive, successful people. They just make you feel special when they’re with you because of their encouraging words. They don’t feel the need to one-up you maybe because they’re perfectly happy with where they are in life. These people show an interest in you and are always looking at the positive.
I was thinking today of a comment my former radio partner, Joanie Pfeiffer, made. We were being interviewed about our new show and she said, “We’re here to build-up not tear down.” I hadn’t thought of that in years. Maybe I’ll make that my new motto. Not just in my personal dealings but every day.
I know some gun owners who are quick to point out how they are safe with their weapons. Let’s not forget to be safe with our words.
Check up on previous Sunday columns by clicking here.
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