Words Matter

I am grieved at the way words are being used in our world today. On the news, in social media, in the newspapers...hateful, hurtful words are everywhere.

Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel taught that "our words create our world” .

Nothing could be more true of what we are witnessing today.

One wrong word, allows others to decide your intention.

Staying silent, that allows others to judge your position.

You said this, but you didn't say that, clearly that means you don't care.

You don't say enough....well why not? ..it goes on and on.

I miss the days when words were beautiful, valued and chosen carefully.

I miss elegant words, edifying words and words that worked to bring people together.

I love to hear well spoken people articulate their thoughts.

I love to see people who barely speak communicate with facial expressions.

Smiling at babies and watching for them to smile back and follow you with their eyes.

I love words born out of pain, that speak freedom and healing.

I love words from Northerners, Southerners, Midwesterners and other regions,

Just the other day a friend said, "Why are you calling that hat a sled?" She educated me on the fact that where she was from a toboggan was a sled and the hat in my hand was a beanie.

I educated her on the fact that where I am from the hat was a toboggan and a sled was a sled.

We laughed and went on our way, had lunch and enjoyed the rest of our day.

These days it seems that too many of us have forgotten how to express ourselves and walk away.

We think that it is our job to educate everyone to feel what we feel, see what we see, to hear what we hear.

We have failed to realize the value in learning from each other.

We have forgotten what we all approach things differently and decided that only one can be right. Meaning the other is wrong.

When will we realize that hateful words beget hateful words?

How would your day be different if you knew the words you spoke today created the world you will live in tomorrow? Maybe we should remember words matter.

If you knew today, that tomorrow every word you spoke would be broadcast in the news, And with that, you, your family and your friends would all be judged? Would you rest well tonight?