The power of words
A few days ago, Dad sent me an SMS on my latest article:
Read your piece on Gurney School. Quite a good article, but not terribly exciting.
Sigh.
Growing up with Dad taught me that words have great power. Remember that little chant? - "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"? Unfortunately, as Richard Hall says, it's a fine mantra for the playground, but it doesn't work.
Even after so many years, I can still hear the accusation, "You are clever, but lazy" ringing in my ears. I can hear Dad saying sarcastically, "My children are all much smarter than I. If I'd studied like they do, I'd have failed all my exams long before this!" Bleargh.
It was Dad who brought home to me the power that a single word can wield over a person's life. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. As I saw Dad's words bring 'death', I decided that I wanted my words to bring life.
So, for as long as I can remember, I've always tried to respond to others and relate to them in an encouraging, supportive way. I believe in affirming people and in accentuating the good - to do for others what Dad didn't do for me, so to speak. I like to "give praise where praise is due" - commend someone for a job well done, and offer positive feedback. I look out for good things to say, chances to offer sincere compliments.
In short, it's been my goal to speak words which will build up, not tear down. More than that, I want my words to bring joy. I want to sprinkle rays of sunshine into others' lives :)
In recent years, I've become a little careless in the way I speak to certain people - and the things I say to them. When I'm irritated and impatient, I've caught myself being cutting, caustic, and sarcastic, which I'm not proud of. In fact, that really scares me, because it's deliberate; several times I couldn't believe I'd actually wanted to wound the other person.
This "loving other people" business surely isn't easy...
But it's rewarding, I think, and very worth it. Having been hurt myself, I don't want to hurt others - no matter how much I might think they deserve it at the time!