My 80-year-old Mom calls me nearly every morning, bright and early. It was in one of those conversations that what I am writing to you today was conceived. We were about to hang up from our conversation when I said, “I feel like there was something else I was going to tell you, but I can’t remember what it was…” Without thinking, I went on to say, “It must have been a lie.” We both laughed.
You see, my great-grandmother used to say that to us. If we forgot what we were about to say, she would respond, “It must have been a lie.” It was only one of the many sayings she said that have stuck with me for over 50 years…think about that for a moment, words spoken to me have remained in my mind and heart after fifty years.
I said it to my mom, “Wow, I still remember all the things and saying she spoke to me when I was just a little girl.”
Words are seeds that never die. If angry words are spoken, they can be forgiven but they will probably always be remembered. I have a friend that used to say, “Words are like scrambled eggs, once spoken, they can’t be taken back, they can’t be unscrambled.” This is so true. For that reason, we must be careful what words come out of our mouth.
Parents, be careful what words you are speaking to your children today. Think about this – if you knew for certain the words your spoke to your child today would NEVER be forgotten, would you be so quick to say them? Or husbands and wives, if you knew the words you spoke to your spouse today would never ever be forgotten, would you still say them?
Proverbs 15:4 says, “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
With our words we build up or tear down – which are you doing today? Are you building up your children or are you tearing them down with your words?
With our words we bless or curse. To bless means empowered to succeed or prosper. That being so, then does curse mean to empower to fail or lack? If so, what are your words doing today in your loved ones? Are they bringing success or failure? Yes, that power is in YOUR words.
The Bible says life and death are in the power of our tongue and we will eat the fruit of our words. What are we eating today?
This morning, as I thought on the words of my great-grandmother from over fifty years ago – I was reminded of the power of our words. I was reminded that words never die, they are alive, and they live on and on.
While thinking on all of this, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Words are seeds that never die.”
That is a powerful and profound statement.
Today, I want us to take a good, hard look at the words we are speaking to those we love. Are they words of blessing? Words of curse? Words to prosper and build up? Or words to destroy and tear down? Whatever they are, remember this…those words will still ring in their ears for decades. Be careful little mouth what you say.
May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be pleasing to God. That is my prayer for me and for you.