“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” Proverbs 19:18

“Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” so the childhood chant goes when someone was hurling hurtful words at you. But words can harm or heal, especially if you allow the attacker to invade your mental space. Proverbs 19:18 state “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”

My mother would often say, “if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all!” exactly what advantage is it to tear someone down, belittle or make them look small in the eyes of others? The one who seeks to destroy the character of another, desires to lift themselves up, seeking the approval and praise from the world. This spirit only comes from the enemy of our souls…that old deceiver Satan; But God’s word tells us “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”

The love of God that lives in every born-again believer, teaches us to build up, encourage and admonish one another; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16. The amazing grace of God and the presence of the Sweet Holy Spirit comforts, encourages, and gives us peace that goes far beyond anything that we can imagine; and He develops in us all that we need to love God and our fellowman “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

Let us pray before we speak, seeking to heal and not hurt with the things we say; may God season our speech with His grace that we may be conduits of His love to all we encounter. Words that heal can save a life, mend a broken heart, and bring a lost soul to the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today is a gift from God to us all…praise Him and uplift someone along the way. We are our brother’s keeper…let us always be concerned about the welfare of others as we walk this journey called life; the song entitled He ain’t Heavy He’s my brother~ in the last few stanzas state:

It’s a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we’re on the way to there

Why not share

 

And the load

Doesn’t weigh me down at all

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

                                                               – The Hollies