Blog 2451 – 07.11.2022

The Power Of Words To Heal Or To Hurt

As a child I was taught like many children to sing and to believe a little chorus, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That like many of the things that I believed as a child just is not true, for far greater hurts have been done in this world by misused words than by sticks or stones, or by knives and guns.

Often soldiers come back from war with debilitating Post Traumatic Stress from the terrible things they have seen and done, but how many more of us suffer all our lives from the damage done to us as children and young adults by hurtful words of from those who professed to love us, whose words are the most powerful in our lives?

A little phrase in my daily mantra comes to me as I think about the power of words to heal or to hurt. It is, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in my sight, O Lord, my strength, my rock, and my redeemer.” And yes, I know that is a variation of a Bible verse with just a couple of words changed.

Words are important, how we use them with others and ourselves. The first word most children learn to say is not Mama or Daddy but “No.” That is a sad commentary on child rearing. When considering the title for today’s blog I first considered, “The Power Of Words To Hurt Or To Heal.” On second thought I changed it to put healing ahead of hurt. We should, I think, all try to do that always and to put “yes” ahead of “no.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lUqgqaCQwFcJ9u_187kXQNLYBbf6OKQv/view?usp=drivesdk

Daughters