STICKS & STONES

I remember growing up with these words drilled into my head to toughen me up for the days ahead in my young life. “Stick and Stones” may break my bones, but words will never hurt”. Words were used and still to this day continue to be used as a means to tear down someone else. These destructive words are intended to have the same effect as metal and wood.

But knowing what we know about words and their effects in our Christian lives, does the old adage “Sticks and Stones” apply in how we manage our lives and view the world around us.

Yes, it is known that words do hurt, and we must manage the flow of words that proceed from our mouths. God tells us that our idle time with our idle words will be called into account as we read in Matthew 12:36  "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment".

Here God tells us to be careful, to measure our words as they proceed from our mouths, and in times past words have been used to harm, one’s mental state, or reputation.

Our words are to uplift and bring joy into the lives of those around us, that we hold them in high esteem Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself”.

Yes, “Sticks and Stones” may very well injure us physically, but the words somehow have a lasting effect that goes beyond the time of physical healing.

So we are to measure our words as a baker measures the ingredients that makes a well-balanced loaf of bread.

Our lives and our ways are before God and man that we present ourselves balanced in all aspects of our lives, ready to be taught, ready to give an answer, and ready to receive that which God sends to us for shelter.

Let us embrace the way that leads to peace, because Gods way and His every doing is centered on peace.

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

This we can and will do to stand before our Great God and His Son Jesus Christ. We will have words in abundance to use toward healing and love in Gods family.