WORDS

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me; nonetheless, words do hurt. During my childhood, I remember repeating this mantra every time someone insulted my appearance or mocked my name since it gave me power over that individual. As a child, I didn't put thought into what was said, and I didn’t allow their words to resonate in my spirit.

I thought as a child, I behaved as a child, and as a child, I used words negatively. Did I know better? Yes. I did. I learned how to treat others with kindness and respect from my mother. Thus, in retrospect, neither I nor the recipient benefited from the hurtful remarks I said when I was younger. My mother taught me that words can evoke strong emotions and memories of hurt that may never fully go away.

According to 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I reasoned like a child." When I became a woman, I put the ways of childhood behind me. And as women, we must exercise greater caution with the words we articulate.

I have not always been careful with my words, but, over the years, I've learned a great deal. Some positive, some negative. But, as a result of learning from my experiences in life, I am now more understanding of the power of language and have developed empathy for other people.

It is incumbent upon us, as mothers, sisters, and spouses, to instruct our children in the distinction between right and wrong, and we must do so by setting a positive example. In this computerized era, cyberbullying is not a joking matter. If we are bullies, our offspring may also become bullies, as they are observing our behavior. We must model positive verbal support for one another and instruct our children to do the same.

We must instill in our children the notion that it is acceptable to remain silent and consider the repercussions of their actions and that it’s acceptable to disregard the negative comments of others regarding them as individuals--it's possible to prevent acts that could result in regrets down the road by taking a moment to reflect on what transpired.

As women, we are unstoppable and influential, and it’s imperative that we tap into our spirituality and leverage the abilities that the Creator has bestowed upon us to have a positive influence in our homes and communities. Our words are powerful. Our words can birth life or destroy life. If we want to create something bigger and better than ourselves, we all need to work together and speak life-changing positive words.

You may forget the kind words you spoke, but the recipient will cherish them for the rest of their lives.