Day 10: Words Have Their Way
/In the 6th grade, I was chosen to read out loud during science. Even though I love reading and have always been a strong reader, I loathed reading out loud. I mean, I loathed it. Draw out those vowels, that’s how serious I am. I was perfectly content all through school being the quiet one in the back who didn’t share her words out loud. This particular morning, I was supposed to read the word organism and I sure read that as a different word because I was trying to get it over with a.s.a.p. I won’t type it here, but I am confident you’ll figure it out.
Got it? Yes? Okay… Now that you’re done laughing…
The sentence I was reading took a sordid turn because I used the wrong word. One wrong word, changed only by two letters, made a huge difference in whatever science-related topic I was reading about.
It’s the same in our regular life. Words make the biggest difference. It’s not just the tone of voice we use, though that’s important. It’s the actual words we use. It’s the request vs. the demand, the insult vs. the compliment, the bridge building vs. bridge destroying, the helping vs. the hurting, the encouraging vs. discouraging, the blessing vs. the cursing, the building up vs. the tearing down.
Someone in my life once tried for several discussions in a row to convince me that words don’t matter, that it’s the intent behind the words that matters the most. Well, I’m a writer so we can all agree how that went over. But words don’t just matter to me because I’m a writer. They matter to me because I’m human.
When my daughter randomly tells me she loves me, when someone tells me my hair looks good, when a stranger tells me she likes my book, when AB’s teacher compliments her reading, when Greg thanks me for dinner every night - those are all words that matter to a human because who doesn’t like to be told they are loved? Or that their hair looks good? Or that their work is valued? Or that their child is special? Or shown some gratitude? We all like those things. Because we’re human. And words matter.
When my daughter yells out the front door “It’s your fault!” in a hilarious fit after a minor consequence, when I get a one-star review of my book, when kids laugh at your kid, when I get into a disagreement with my spouse - those are all words that matter to a human because who likes to endure fits with their kids? Or get told their work isn’t valued? Or have their kid laughed at? Or have a disagreement with their spouse? Nobody likes those things. Because we’re human. And words matter.
We are gifted the use of our words to build up, to lead, to lead in love, to show others heaven on earth. We’re not the point of this whole story, others and the Kingdom are the point. We’re vessels. And one of the best ways we can use ourselves as a vessel to bring heaven to earth as often as possible is with our words. They don’t even have to be perfect. Just authentic and kind, true with tact, gracious, generous, and encouraging.
During Lent we have the opportunity to withhold from something. Maybe today we can practice withholding any words that may be biting. Maybe today we don’t worry about saying the perfect thing, and instead focus on saying the kind thing.
May your imperfect words be bridge building, relationship making, life giving, and sweet like honey as they work to bring heaven on earth to those around you. And may you receive the same.
Want these Lenten Shorts to your inbox every morning through Easter? Sign up in that purple box or by clicking here.
Want to get a Monday Morning Blessing to start your week? See a sample & sign up for that right here!