29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only
what is helpful for building others up according
to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians
4:29
Words. How important are they in the full scope of things?
Well, in a word, very important! Words, when used as encouragement, can be used
to build up or tear down, and to that end, they are as powerful as a double
edged sword!
Words can soothe a broken heart and bring courage,
rejuvenation, and strength to those who are hurting or lost along the way. Thy
can also lift a person up from the abyss of darkness in their own soul, and
help them regain their footing once again. In essence, words have the power to be
like aloe for a burdened soul, encouraging them to seek solace and higher
ground, which is a win-win for all involved.
Yet when words are bitter or condescending, they can tear
down others, and in one fell swoop, the speaker as well. Words of
discouragement, words of condemnation, words of hatred and malice are capable
of leveling even the bravest soul as they can be truly destructive. Thy also
put people at odds, pitting one against the other.
Each of us needs to guard against such negativity, both as
one speaking destructive words on occasion, and also on the receiving end. We
need to be astute in recognizing our own speaking patterns and quell negativity
before it even starts, as well as those of others. We need to guard our mouths
and open our hearts whenever in conversation lest it go astray, and, for
self-preservation, step away from those who engage in expressed negativity lest
we find it is contagious!
All of us have at one time or another felt like we need to
have the last word. However, we simply do not. For it is in having the last
word that we often step foot into the muck and mire of negativity through our own
speech. It is then, at that point, that we must learn to recoil and think
carefully about what we will say, when, and to whom. It is better for our
health, and the welfare of others, to remain silent than to engage in such
negativity.
For some people, pulling down others can easily become a way
of life through confrontation, sarcasm and even gossip. Rather, we need to put
ourselves aside, and speak life into
our relationships to edify other people. We need to lift each other up, so to
speak, through our words.
It has been said that kindness begets kindness. That entails
reaching out to others with an open hand, ready to grasp theirs in synergy. Indira
Ghandi once said, “You cannot shake hands
with a clenched fist.” Truer words were never spoken! We need to release
all that limits us from becoming encouragers, mediators, and negotiators,
paving the way to build relationships and others up rather than tear them down.
We need to embrace each other in new and
unprecedented ways that help to nurture each other, rather than to denigrate the
goodness in people.
Sometimes we have people in our lives that are negative or
that we disagree with. They may seem short-sighted or even cruel in their
delivery of their own words. Yet we need to remember that no one is all good or
all bad. There is always common ground to be found if we simply take another
look beyond our knee jerk reaction. For many times, when we are able to take
the higher ground, mayhem, discord and malice melt away, and go by the way
side. They become non-existent as we strive to see the best in others, even
giving them a pass on important matters. In that way, we are fulfilling our
Biblical destiny to “Love one another.”
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Adele M. Gill Copyright 2016
