The Words We Speak

"Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." Matthew 15:17-18

 

I have been reflecting on my last year’s small steps and goals. I made a list of what I learned (or relearned) over the last twelve months. Things like; small steps can bring big results in my life, and I learned that I can change my mind and change my brain. I also became much more aware of the power of the words that we speak.

During our last summer's seminar, 'changing our minds and our brains', I spent quite a bit of time researching, reflecting and talking about the power of words.(http://smallsteps4bigresults.blogspot.com/2012/07/frame-your-world-with-your-words-detox.html)  Every since that time, I’ve been more aware of the words I, and others, say ....... The words we speak are so powerful, are they not?

In one of my recent public speaking classes, I asked my students to share an anecdote with us of a time when they learned a valuable lesson. One student told us that she had a bad habit of saying things to her friends to tease them and she admitted that sometime she would even say hurtful things to them. Then, when they acted like she had offended them, she would quickly laugh and say, "Just kidding".

She said her Pastor saw her doing this one time and told her, "You know, Teresa, there's no such thing as 'just kidding'. The words out of our mouth come from our heart. And if you are really honest with yourself you would probably agree that you are saying something that is in your heart." She said she thought a lot about what her Pastor had said, and realized he was right. She admitted that she knew it sounded silly, but she believed that it was like a 'free pass' to say the hurtful things, as long as she was quick to smile and say, 'just kidding'. Teresa said she believed that a lot of us think we have that same ‘free pass’ when we’re angry at someone. We think that because a person makes us mad, that gives us 'a pass' to spew our hurtful words.

She ended her anecdote by reminding us that there is no such thing as 'just kidding' and ‘free passes’ and that we need to take care and take responsibility for the words we speak.

Speaking of words...There is a phrase that I hear and see in print quite frequently these days.  The phrase is,"Oh.My.God!"  

I was recently reminded about the history of the name of 'God'. Did you know that 'back in the day' the Jews so revered certain names of God that they would only allow certain religious leaders to speak those names out loud, and only then under very specific circumstances.  So the common folks would substitute the name of God and put another name in its place, like 'the Holy One'.  They did this because they were afraid they might somehow slip and speak the real name of God in vain.
 

This history about the seriousness and mindfulness of speaking the Lord's name does seem to be a far cry from our flippant and casual use of God's name today.  We often hear his name spoken or texted without the least bit of reverence or thought about God.  We've even shortened the phrase so we can email or text it faster ‘OMG’. And I’m sure if you’re one of those people that use the trendy expression, ('OH. MY. GOD'), you would quickly retort that you don’t in any way speak it with the intention of trivializing God’s name.  But as we reflect on this idea: 'the words that come out of our mouth, proceed from our heart’, would you not agree that we need to think and care more about what we say, and about the power of the words we speak.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and.. words... Post it on the blog, email me at smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com,  or find me on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karen.spencer.5283166