Choosing Words Carefully

“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can impact a life forever.” ~ Zig Ziglar

“What comes out of our mouth is a direct reflection of what’s stored up in our heart.” ~   Lysa Terkeurst

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Leland Michael is an educator in Iowa.  Before school started, he was shopping at a local store.  Parents recognized him as being a teacher at their children’s school and asked if it was really necessary to have to buy all the supplies the teachers had requested.  In front of their children, they complained about the amount and cost of what all they needed to purchase.  If they had taken time to look in Mr. Michael’s basket, they might have noticed that he was purchasing a classroom set of many of the items they were also buying.  As he neared the checkout line, a little dejected, the man in front of him was purchasing his daughter’s school supplies.  After his purchase, the man turned to Mr. Michael and said, “You are a teacher, right? I just want to thank you for everything you do. I see your cart is full with supplies, and I just wanted to help out as much as I can.”  The father then handed Mr. Michael a $25 gift card, shook his hand and left with his daughter giving him a big smile.  What a difference in responses.  Leland noted that two sets of kids heard a message of distrust and bad judgment of teachers while the girl heard and saw that “School is important enough that we should give more than required to make sure it is successful, teachers should be respected and valued, and learning requires us giving it everything we have.” Words and attitude make a big difference.

Amy Beth Gardner's daughter, Breonna, was entering middle school.  Her clothes were bought, supplies had been purchased, and she had even been to the school and decorated her locker.  As important as those events were, there was more more task that her mother wanted to accomplish.  The night before school started, Amy Beth gave Breonna a tube of toothpaste and a plate.  She had her squeeze all the toothpaste out then told Breonna to put all of the toothpaste back into the tube.  After complaining that she couldn't accomplish the task and "It won't be like it was before!" her mother then explained that Breonna's words were like the toothpaste.  "Your words have the power of life and death.  As you go into middle school, you are about to see just how much weight your words carry.  You are going to have the opportunity to use your words to hurt, demean, slander and wound others.  You are also going to have the opportunity to use your words to heal, encourage, inspire and love others.  You will occasionally make the wrong choice.  Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can't take them back.  Use your words carefully, Breonna.  When others are misusing their words, guard your words.  Make the choice every  morning that life-giving words will come out of your mouth.  Decide tonight that you are going to be a life-giver in middle school.  Be known for your gentleness and compassion.  Use your life to give life to a world that so desperately needs it.  You will never, ever regret choosing kindness." 

Whether spoken or written, words should be carefully considered before expressing them.  Do my words honor God?  Do my words edify and build others up?  If so, speak up.  If not, silence can be golden.

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Psalm 4:24

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

     be pleasing in your sight,

     LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

     sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

Matthew 15:10-11, 18-19

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:4

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 1:26

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:9-10

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”

1 Peter 3:10