Words HAVE Weight

Women can be mean. I can say that, because…well, I’m a woman. I lived that life once. I was bitter, hateful and just had a very drab outlook on life. Then one summer, as I worked at a church camp, the Lord changed my heart. Ever since then I realized just how hateful and mean I really was sometimes. Even to the people who love me and whom I love dearly.

Recently a friend confided in me about a heartache. Something someone said to her that really hurt her. It might not have been intentional, but the word still hurt. She shared her newest creation on a “sale” site and was beyond excited at the possibilities. I was beyond thrilled and wanted to cartwheels for her – in theory, of course. This other person simply replied with “cool.” COOL? Is that all you can say?

Maybe our society has become too busy to recognize that these words actually meaning and weight.

Maybe they just don’t care.

I’m not sure, but regardless, we need to understand that Words HAVE Weight. Words have meaning and usage plays a huge part in the way they are perceived and received. Simply saying the word, “cool” is rather flippant in my opinion. There isn’t much thought given to the response, which means there wasn’t a genuine emotion. It was a response. Quick. Simple. Now leave me alone.

Sometimes it could be out of jealousy. “Neat.” Really? Was it really neat or are you upset you didn’t think of it first? Are you comparing yourself to that person? Their family? Their successes?

YOU. ARE. NOT. THEM.

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! ~Dr. Seuss

It’s true. God created YOU. You are unique. One of a kind. You are HIS creation. And so is that other woman. She is HIS child too. She deserves to be treated with respect, honor and prestige – as a DAUGHTER of the KING!

Lately I have seen this in the church and of course, on the web. Social Media has made it to where our words are just that – words typed on a screen. They don’t hold weight anymore. We can say we’re going to pray for someone and make them feel better. But, did you write it down so you won’t forget? Did you really stop and pray for them or just say that to be a “good Christian?”

Truth? If you didn’t stop and pray you’re no better than those who never pray.

Now I’m not perfect. I have told people I would pray for their upcoming surgery or meeting or whatever and because I didn’t write it down, I forgot. I’m not giving myself a pass here. But, I have realized that when people say they are praying for me, I want them to mean it. I want to know and trust that they are doing just that. So, I need to offer the same courtesy. So…I  started writing down my prayers on the calendar that I look at everyday. If someone says their surgery is coming up in a couple days, I will write it down the night before (I’m not always a morning person). If they ask for prayer right then, I’ve learned to stop and pray and then respond. Otherwise, I might just scroll past the request and forget I was going to pray.

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Sticks and stones”…well, it’s simply not true. Words have meaning. Words have weight. And we need to be mindful of what we speak.

I implore you to really take the time to think before you speak…or type. I tell my kids to use their “filter” before they open their mouth. Just because the thought popped in to your head doesn’t mean it needs to come out. It is also just as important that we choose our words wisely so as not to hurt or offend someone in the heat of the moment.

Somehow in this cyper-age, people have forgotten that words have meaning and people DO matter.

This post is part of the Marriage & Motherhood Mondays series. To see others in this series, simply click the image below.