Thoughts Under the Umbrella

Psalm 19: 14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” A stone is tossed into the water and you watch the ripple of the water as it reaches way beyond the strength of that stone. Our words can be like stones. When we were young we heard that saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Oh, how we know that is not a true statement. Words can break a heart, a spirit, a future and one’s entire life. It is in those hurtful words that are spoken where that tiny ripple can turn into a tsunami. Slowly over time it eats away at the very essence of the soul. We know the person on the receiving end of the words is being wounded. How about the person flinging the stone of hurt? Those words are coming from a hurting heart. Hurt people hurt people. Somewhere deep inside they too were broken. Someone in their life hurled cruel and cutting comments into their soul, and so the ripple effect starts. We need to choose our words wisely. We know God hears and see all, even the words we speak and the heart where these words are born from. He understands if you are wounded. He understands if you are the one doing the wounding, throwing those stones from a heart that has been cut. He is the God of healing and hope and He has the power to change the damage that has been done. He can change our hearts so that our reckless words that pierce like swords can become gracious words like honeycombs, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Healed bones and sweet words, what a ripple effect that would start! Lord, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely ,whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, let us think about those things. Those will bring a sweet sound to Your ears and to the ears of others. – Michele