Amy Beth Gardner’s daughter, Breonna, is entering middle school for the first time. School supplies, clothes, and shoes have been purchased, and a new backpack is ready for the first day. There had even been a trip to the school to organize and decorate her locker. In order to make sure Breonna was prepared for the upcoming school year, there was one more lesson her mom wanted to teach. Handing her daughter a tube of toothpaste, Amy Beth asked her to squirt as much of the toothpaste as she could onto the plate on the table. When Breonna had completed the task, her mother asked her to now put the toothpaste back into the tube. She tried, but was not making much progress. Breonna expressed, “But I can’t! It won’t be like it was before.” Amy Beth patiently waited for her daughter to finish, as best she could, and then explained: “You will remember this plate of toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life or 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. 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.”
One Sunday morning, author Florence Littauer was visiting a church in New England. After being spotted by the pastor, he asked Florence if she would present a children’s sermon. Since she had never given a children’s sermon she had to think quickly as she and the children were walking down the aisle. Ephesians 4:29 came to mind: “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.” Phrase by phrase they talked about the meaning of the words and concepts of the scripture and the importance of not saying unkind words. As Littauer reminded the children of the impact of their words, one boy said, “Our words should be like building blocks.” As they talked about adding kind words, another boy commented, “And we shouldn’t go around and knock other people’s blocks down!” Florence responded, “What a perfect picture! Here’s a whole pile of good words, and then someone comes along with a negative remark and it knocks all the blocks down.” Then a little girl stood up, faced the audience, and responded, “What she means is that our words should be like little silver boxes with bows on top.” Littauer concluded the sermon with, “What a beautiful thought! Our words should be gifts to each other, little silver boxes with bows on top.”
What a difference it would make if we used our words to build others up and made sure they were gifts to those with whom we speak.
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
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Proverbs 12:25
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4
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
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
No comments:
Post a Comment