Our WORDS Matter

If you follow my blog or my Facebook posts you know that I’ve determined to have a “word of the day” every day this year. Having that focus has sure helped me with my subject matter. God highlights a word to me and then I run with it. My WORD today is WORD: a single, distinct, element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence. That sounds innocent enough. Right? Oh, but our WORDS matter!

Our WORDS convey who we are and what’s in our hearts. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45) I watched Billy Graham's funeral service online yesterday. Whenever I’ve heard his name mentioned, since his passing and before, he was the good man that this scripture described.
Like Billy Graham, may our hearts be filled with good things and when we speak…..people listen to those words and are refreshed and encouraged because of them. May we be God's instruments of peace and love when we speak not hate.

God, Himself, proved that WORDS matter. He started out this massive universe with creative WORDS “Let there be light, and there was light”. (Genesis 1:3). It’s been a great learning experience to look up word definitions, but to also take those WORDS to heart to help make me that good woman who brings good things out of her heart. Our WORDS matter.

Aren't these some of those good words? “I love you, you’re important to me, thank you so much, how can I repay you, you look really nice today, I’m so sorry, I forgive you, I like your new hair style, great job, this place wouldn’t be the same without you, I’m so proud of you, you are irreplaceable, you brighten up the room when you come in.”

And then there are those words that produce just the opposite: “I hate you, you're stupid, I am such a LOSER!, you are hopeless, I wish you had never been born, I wish I were dead, you make me sick, I will never forgive you, I want a divorce, nobody cares about you, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.” (Proverbs 18:21). We were made in God’s image. He created this world with His words. We, too, create with our words. We can usher in praise when the world seems to crumble around us. We can bring hope when everything seems hopeless. We can soothe a troubled heart, when someone is in despair. We can bring LIFE with our words.

In our lifetime, we could fill a library with the words we speak, and if we did, what would the titles of those books be? Our words have a powerful influence on others. God is looking for messengers of hope, faith and love and He wants our WORDS to be on target each day doing just that.

Proverbs 16:24 says "Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body." Don't we want pleasant words to come from our hearts and mouths that reflect God’s character in our actions. Whether we are talking with a store cashier or interacting with those we do everyday life with, don't we want to work towards being men and women who display Godly character and who possess the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to be evident through our words?

Whether our day goes smooth as glass or is rocky and bumpy, may God’s messages of truth have such an impact on us that our hearts and mouths produce "soft and sweet words.....so that if we have to eat them, we'll be eating yummy, delectable treats.

Keep Your Words Soft and Sweet

Last week I called an 800 number to get info on an online product. After a long wait in the queue, my conversation with the customer service rep was upbeat and informative, until I told the agent that I'd need to call back once I've made up my mind about ordering the product. That's when the conversation went south and she went into a Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde mode. She angrily said, "You mean you're not ordering the product? You've wasted my time. I could have been helping someone that wanted to order. You should have called customer service!" Of course, with my tone of voice making it clear how frustrated I was at her attitude, I said "Are you kidding me? I thought I did call customer service. It was the only number I saw and you are the most rude customer service agent I've ever talked to. You need a course on customer service skills! What is your name?" She told me but it was probably a bogus name. She hung up on me. Whew!

I really don't think that unhappy gal was following standard procedures. But the more I thought about her, I really do think she needed to meet her sales quota for the day, and I interrupted her progress. And, she may have been under tremendous pressure in her home and business life.

Later that same day, I encountered a long wait in line at a store and while I was inwardly going through the thoughts "Why don't they get another check-out clerk? And, why are there three store clerks in a huddle just chatting away?" Frustrations were mounting in my little picture-perfect day.....until . . . I started thinking about the fact that I’d acted almost the same way with the rude and frustrated customer service agent. Now I was having to do a self analysis. I was regretting my impatience and lack of sensitivity now at this store, but to that agent who was, perhaps, having a tough day.

Before MY call, she probably had another caller who "wasted her time" -- especially if she is paid only by commission on what she closes. Suddenly, I felt sorry for her. I imagined her packing up her things at the end of another long day and heading home. A home where she had to face her own daily aggravations, frustrations, and to-do lists.

That’s when it hit me. While on the phone, I never pictured her as a person. To me, she was just a voice on the other end of the phone that was causing me extreme frustration.How might my reaction have been different if I’d stopped to think about her as a woman just like me? What might it be like to be her, to live her life, and to have to go to her job every day?

I really think God was trying to get my attention to be more aware of my reactions. More aware of handling daily frustrations in a way that reflects a heart that loves the Lord.

Proverbs 16:24 says "Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body." I want pleasant words to come from my heart that is humble enough to reflect God’s character in my actions and reactions. Whether I am talking with a customer service rep or interacting with those I do everyday life with, I want to work towards being a woman who displays godly character. I want the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to be evident.

Whether my day goes smooth as glass or is rocky and bumpy, may God’s messages of truth have such an impact on me that my heart and my mouth produce "soft and sweet words.....so that if I have to eat them, I'll be eating yummy, delectable treats. How about you?