Words. For most of my life, I have had a love affair with words. When I was small, I couldn't wait to learn what those mysterious symbols on the paper were; what they meant. Once I did learn, worlds were opened to me. Places that no longer existed; places that were totally from someone's imagination. As a small child just learning to read, it was "Harold and the Purple Crayon." Then I discovered children's mystery books. Trixie Belden Mysteries were always my favorites. At the ripe old age of 11, I discovered Agatha Christie Mysteries and I devoured every one I could get my hands on at our little Henderson Library.
During the time I was learning to read, I was also learning to write. This became another facet of my love affair. I started keeping a journal when I was about 7 years old. This has continued to this day and is now in the form of this blog. Yes, I was a sporadic diarist, as well.
Words have influenced my life and whether you love words or not, words influence your life as well. Interestingly enough, when I wrote the first installment of "Words", we were having a "Woman's Weekend" at my church with a guest speaker. There was a Friday night study, then the service at which Mrs. Connie Hall spoke, and then a Sabbath afternoon study. Her topic for the weekend? The Power of Words. I had no idea until I got to church that morning that words were the topic. I shared what I had written with Connie during our meal and before our afternoon study. The sermon was about speaking life and not speaking death, because that is what our words are: Life or Death.
Since then, I have given a lot of thought to this "Part II". In our afternoon session, part of our "homework" assignment was to find a verse that would become our mission statement. The one I chose for myself is Proverbs 31:26.
I've also done some reading and there is a very small book in the New Testament called James. The 3rd chapter of James is dedicated to the tongue. It likens the tongue to the rudder of a great ship and to the spark that can cause a great forest fire. Think about it. Whether a ship has sails or an engine, you steer with the rudder. One little spark in dry grass can set a whole forest to burn. That is power. That power is in your mouth.
James goes on to say that with the tongue we give praise to God and curse our fellow men. Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of that lately. I've been guilty of it myself. According to James, this should not be. Fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring and yet from my mouth I praise God for His love and goodness and then turn around and yell obscenities at the driver who cut me off. I hang my head in shame.
I pray each day for God to help me live up to my mission statement; the one I chose for my homework assignment. I want to speak life, not death. I want to speak hope, not doom. I want to speak love, not hate. I want to speak courage, not fear. I want to speak peace, not strife. Each morning, when God's mercies are new, I pray for the Spirit to control my tongue and use me to speak life, hope, love, courage, and peace. Each day, I fail; yet each day I gain ground. By God's amazing grace, I gain ground. I'm not there yet, but I'm moving forward and that's what matters.
By the way, Proverbs 31:26 reads: She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
I have described myself as a Jesus Freak and a Potterhead (one is not mutually exclusive of the other) and so, I would like to quote Professor Dumbledore and his thoughts on words: Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.
How very true. Do your words cause a great fire? Or do your words quench a thirsty soul?
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say
