Words can hurt sometimes. Especially from someone close to you, but even from someone you might not know very well.
My child had some words for me tonight, that at first felt like a punch in the gut.
But before I reacted, I tried to take a second before I spoke, and think.
Sometimes we might not even be the underlying reason someone says something nasty to us. There might be a deeper issue that needs to be dealt with. And we might just be right in the line of fire when they choose to act out of that place of hurt. Even though it might feel good for a second to say something nasty back, it probably won’t help anything.
So why not choose to speak words of life? Or say nothing at all?
If we could control our tongues, and think before we speak, there might be understanding that comes to us about someone, even if we don’t know them that well. They could of had a bad day, possibly fearful about something, going through a rough patch in life, or have a hurt that they can’t let go of, so they react out of it.
It hurts to have something said to you that is nasty. You have every right to feel that way when it happens. But before you snap back, ask the Lord for help holding your tongue, and ask Him to help you deal with the hurt, and give it to Him instead. And who knows what kind of an impact you might have on someone if you choose your words wisely!
This is something I need to remember every single day. I may not be the reason someone is angry and says hurtful things. But I can choose to be the one who will make them wonder, “why did they choose to hold their tongue when they didn’t have to?” You may end up pointing them to the One who can heal their pain.
My Life as Me 