‘Rash words are like sword thrusts…’ (Proverbs 12:18)
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me… I wonder how often we have heard this well known saying over the years – and how often we have found the exact opposite to be the case. In all too many situations emotional and mental wounds, received from harsh and hurtful words spoken by others, take so much longer to heal than any physical injury may do. Indeed, in some cases the wounds are never fully healed.
Proverbs has many verses that talk about the power of the words we speak – both good and bad. But perhaps one of the verses that we should most comes from our Lord Himself, ”’for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned…’ (Matthew 12:37). Food for thought!