Words

Recently within a group setting I talked about stories from a highly acclaimed author.  I found the author’s writings troubling to me because of the language used in the stories which were really characteristic of the times and place of the stories.  In my telling I shared an example which offended one of my friends.  How sorry I was to hear that the language I shared from those stories was a reminder of the deep hurt that played in the life of my friend during their upbringing.

Words carry tremendous power whether used negatively or positively. 

When we consider the words we speak, do we think before we speak, as my mother used to say?  I certainly can slip up as I have proven more than once.  Is it important to us to speak only positively?  Sometimes we may try to excuse away the negative when we say, “I just give constructive criticism to correct a behavior.”  Though the intention may be constructive, constructive criticism is still criticism (negative).

Thinking before we speak gives us an opportunity to structure our words in a more positive and effective way.  Eliminate the “nots” from our words.  Avoid saying, “can’t, won’t don’t…”  Turn negative thoughts into positive words.  You may find it challenging at first, but you CAN do it.  Start thinking about how to turn a negative statement into a positive.  It is doable by using positive words like “can, will, do…”  Using positive words draws positive energy back to you so try it and keep at it.

I learned a process from a book called the One Minute Manager on how to do a one-minute reprimand.  Privately you meet with the person who has stumbled.  You describe their actions that you have a problem with and tell them how that made you feel.  You let that emotion hang for a minute.  Then you tell them they are better than that, talk about the better option, and gain their agreement.  Everyone wins with positive words.  Notice the positive approach and the fact that it is done privately. 

How powerful is the word really?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.  What came to be through him was life. (JN 1:1-4a)

Ponder this for a moment.  “What came to be through him, the Word, was life.”  Do we follow Christ’s example with our words?  In thinking about our words, should we better use words that bring life to others and situations?  It causes me to think of the fact that God is love.  In addition, God is the source of all goodness.  In my own examen I begin to think that my words should always be out of love. 

Now let us get real in that there are times that I may be unhappy about things.  If I catch my tongue I will stop and avoid pouring poison on a situation.  Lord, teach me new knots to tie my tongue.  So how do I begin to turn those negative thoughts and reactions to positive?  I can only do that by leaning hard on the source of love for help.  Help me Lord.  I need you.  In those situations where I am unhappy I begin to think why they say that Patience is a virtue. 

So, we can conclude that even more powerful than words is love especially when we consider the one true source. 

One more consideration and really the most important one is the untapped power of prayer.  Remember that prayer is a two-way conversation with God.  God so wants to hear from us even though He already knows what is on our mind.  When we come to Him in prayer, his word comes back to us in Love.  If we can remember that in everything we say and do God calls us to do it in love.  Can we stay out of God’s way and let Him work through us?  We are called to love God above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Love, love, love!

We are like the veins that God wants to pump His lifeblood through to the rest of the body of Christ.  Will our words clog the veins, or will we be the conduit He calls us to be, to make a loving difference to others.  As Pope Francis once said, three key phrases in our vocabulary should be “Please may I, Thank you, and I am Sorry.”   Round it out with saying I love you.  Let us all work hard to bring positive words and love into our relationships and be contagious in doing so.  Let us Shine like the Son.