Sticks and Stones...

According to a recent book I read (If God Had a Fridge, Your Picture Would Be On It by Glyn Norman) "Estimates state that it takes somewhere between 10 and 37 positive comments to offset the damage that one negative one can cause."  I don't know where these statistics come from but from my own personal experience I could safely say that I definitely can see how it would be true. I spent years hearing how worthless I was, how I couldn't do anything right, being called names and criticized for most of my childhood and into my adulthood. The old phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me." is one of the most false sayings ever.

• Words can sting.
• Words can hurt.
• Words can wound a heart.
• Words can kill a spirit.

Even knowing all this, I know that sometimes, all too often, I let negative, destructive words come out of my mouth and this makes me sad and angry.  This morning I was praying about this very thing and as I was praying I heard a new song on the radio. (This is the 2nd day in a row that God has used music to very directly speak to my heart as I've been praying - I LOVE MUSIC!) The song I heard was Words, by Hawk Nelson

These are the lyrics:

Words

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up

Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
(Speak over the fear)
God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear
(We need to hear)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life
Let my words be truthI don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts
Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

This is the prayer of my heart tonight... "Lord, I pray that the words I speak would lift others up, would build others up, would encourage others, and most importantly, let my words point the world back to You."

Seeking to Honor Him in all I Say,

Sherri