Words

Each morning at school, the staff gather for a 10 minute devotion. We take turns doing it...some of us are more nervous than others. Typically, the Primary's and the non-teachers are the most anxious. Nevertheless there are often terribly wise thoughts shared. Thoughts that stick with you for a bit. Thoughts that you ponder for quite some time.

Yesterday, the receptionist had her turn....and she talked about Words. She talked about a journey she had gone on, through a chapter or two of Proverbs and really stopped to think about what each verse was really saying. She shared some profound lessons.

She reminded us that words, even the truth, can be very damaging and dangerous. Our motivation and intention needs to be one of love towards the receiver....even when we're speaking the truth. We should be trying at all times, to speak words that give life. Words that uplift. Words that encourage. Words that guide.

It made me stop and think. I am far less careful with words at home, than I am at work. I'm fairly certain that most of us would say the same thing. This afternoon I saw examples of words that break, words that crush. I was in another classroom in the primary school, working with some kids on a PowerPoint about our camp and was reminded what girls are like, in that age group. They begin to get catty and manipulative. They can be cruel. They don't think about the consequences of their words on the hearer. I've long been frustrated by this....it seems all girls who enter this age group go through it. My own daughters have had their struggles and experienced things that linger to this day. Maturity has its way of smoothing out these childhood happenings, thankfully. But it brought back very quickly, that which was shared just the morning before.

On my fridge right now, I have this Bible verse:

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable,
and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about
things that are excellent and worthy of praise"
Philippians 4:8

It is said that we act out of what we believe. If we believe our speech comes out of what we think, then the way to prevent harsh words is to think on things that are good and pleasing to God.

Let's choose to speak words that give life