*Disclaimer: I’m writing this to myself. It is my hope that I can change from these experiences and reflections. If others benefit as well, that would be wonderful. But since the beginning of this blog, my main purpose in writing is to keep myself accountable by reviewing what I journal on this site. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. The Bible is the holy Word of God and speaks for itself. If you feel conviction from any verses shared on this blog, as I do, I can’t take any credit for that. :)*

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

Whoever started that cutesy memory device should recant and retire.

It is a false lie. *said in best King of Siam/Yul Brynner voice*

Words often bite, devour, and destroy. Where is the love, edification, exhortation, and encouragement?

I got my own sour taste of the receiving end this weekend. Some names I shouldn’t repeat.

NOTE: I’m not writing this to play the part of a victim. Sure – those words hurt me. But how often have I been on the other side? Even if I don’t run around throwing out foul language, how often do my words (and heart motives!) exude hatred, jealousy, pride, and murder?

Here are just a handful of passages I’ve been thinking about the last few days. All I can say is – ouch.

• So also the tongue is a small member, yet hit boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:5-12)

• Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

• But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (Colossians 3:8)

• Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

How have you handled a recent encounter with a word monster (yourself or others)?