The tongue has the power of life and death.
—Proverbs 18:21
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”
Everybody knows that’s not true. Vicious words hurt. Bad! The number one cause of teen suicide is verbal bullying. In its wake, spiteful speech leaves the ruins of alienation, broken marriages, and church splits.
On the other hand, thoughtful words bring healing. Here is a little bouquet of thoughts from Proverbs:
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (16:24).
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (12:25).
“How good is a timely word” (15:23).
An ointment ad yaps, “Helps the hurt stop hurting.” Another offers a bandage “that takes away the ouch.”
See that your words help the hurt stop hurting and take away the ouch.
Spiteful words can be forgiven but not easily forgotten.