Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones....

And words can sometimes hurt me!

Have you ever been at the receiving end of hurtful words? This happened to me last night. It wasn't a family member or really even a "dear" friend. It was someone who I know very little about. Still, she hurled words that hurt in response to something I said.

My first reaction, I admit, was to throw some words right back. I kind of stuck my claws out for a minute ready to respond with some of the thoughts that were running around my head that moment. Instead of stooping (this time), though, I decided to reflect on her words.

This is definitely one of my downfalls. I ponder. I "reflect". And quite honestly, sometimes I sink lower in my "woe is me" pity party when I do so. It's kind of like the puppy who sits and licks a wound. I play those words over and over in my head and soon, like most of us, I start to internalize them. This is ineffective at best. It's one of those human nature responses that can whittle away at our sense of self. While the words are still in my head...I am working to follow the advice of a long-ago pastor: "If the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn't, DON'T!"

I realized something though. We all sling hurtful words about sometimes. One of Dh's sermons that will always stick in my mind is "Words that Hurt/Words that Heal".

How many times do words go flying off my tongue that I wish I could reach out and grab back? Last night, though it hurt, was a gentle reminder just how powerful our words are. They can bite and sting.

May we all "throw" some "Words that Heal" someone's way today and refrain from those "Words that Hurt"...because even when we are well-intentioned, they CAN hurt!!