"Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." What an absurd and out right lie that saying is.

When you throw a ball, you can go get it back, when you bruise the arm or leg, they usually heal. What about when someone knocks you on the ground, unless they kill you, you can normally get up. BUT ONCE A WORD LEAVES OUR MOUTH IT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK.

You see, sticks and stones can break our bones, sometimes even kill us, but words can kill as surely as a bullet striking ones heart.

The trouble about being killed by words is that it can become a living death as well as causing physical death. Yes, words lead to violence and then to death. But the most insidious words are the words that destroy a persons soul.

You don't think that words are potent? Well in Genesis, GOD said let their be light, and there was light, and he spoke all of creation into being except man himself. Words was lucifers down fall, He spoke and said "I will ascend unto the throne." and was cast out of heaven for his rebellious words.

Hurtful words are so easy to say, but the hardest words to say are, I am sorry, I am wrong, I have sinned. Those are words with healing in them. But how many of us can say those words and mean them. Instead we belittle others, our family, our children, other families and their children.

The words you say to your children can haunt you for the rest of your life and forever destroy your child. Except for the grace of GOD these kind of words are irreversible.

So why are we so careless with our words? Words have started global wars, and other conflicts of all kinds. Have you ever thought that we humans are the only creatures on the face of this earth that can speak words, and we are also the only creatures capable of murder. Think about that.

So the next time we want to say something hateful let us not say anything. A wise woman who happens to be my mother has told me before, "If you have nothing nice to say, DON'T say anything at all." Wish we all could follow that advice don't you?

© Copyright 2001 by John and Cindy Thomas