Monday, March 16

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8

WORDS

Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me!

We may have taken some comfort in whatever protection those words offered us as children, but we know as adults they are not true. Words have great power and must be chosen carefully when we communicate with others. We all know this, but are we aware that we must be careful in the words we choose for ourselves?

Words. We surround ourselves with them: the books we read, the TV and radio programs we select, the movies we go to, the people we talk to and the songs we sing. We are much affected by these words. Frederick Buechner wrote [in The Clown in the Belfry]:

"If there is poison in the words, you are poisoned; if there is nourishment in the words, you are nourished; if there is beauty, you are made a little more beautiful. In Hebrew, the word dabar means both word and also deed. A word doesn't really say something, it does something. It brings something into being. It makes something happen."

In other words, as we fill our eyes and ears, we also fill our minds and hearts. Words do shape our lives--and we need to be careful. Paul provided excellent guidelines for us when he wrote to the Philippians hundreds of years ago. As we think about Paul's words, think also of the words to an early-learned prayer [Psalm 19:14].

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Libby Dickinson (1993)