Fair Dinkum {The Poison Tongue} Life

For the times when I just have to get it off my chest

How much impact do you think your words have on others? Do you sometimes say harsh unloving things to the people in your life and then just brush it off and tell them to get over it? You may have heard of the Poison Pen, but have you heard of the Poison Tongue?

Do you know people that have been deeply wounded by the words of parents spoken in anger and without love? Or broken and belittled by harsh words from a spouse or friend, a teacher or someone they looked up to?

From the Bible

I know many people today scoff at the Bible and that's their right, but it actually has some pretty powerful truths to teach us about the power of the tongue and the words we use.

From the Bible Proverbs 12:18

How do you feel after an altercation with someone over a parking spot or similar issue having been called every nasty name under the sun and told to F.... Off!

I always drive away feeling on top of the world, don't you?

'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me' is probably the biggest lie ever told!!

In society today we seem unable to speak to each other or disagree on anything without using words to cut each other down to size, to hurt and maim. Our words are used like punches to the head or knives to the gut and we don't seem to recognise the untold damage we do to each other.

I cringe when I am in a shopping centre or out somewhere and hear how some parents speak to their children. Just think what those harsh words of condemnation are doing to those impressionable little minds. The pain that is being inflicted by those hurtful words from someone that is supposed to love them. Words that they will carry in their hearts for a lifetime.

Words can either harm or heal. They can build up or tear down. They can encourage or discourage. They can burn or sooth. They can bring peace or cause war. They can cut like a knife.

From the Bible Proverbs 18:21a

They can breed contempt and turn brother against brother. They have an enormous influence on us and oft times on the decisions we ultimately make in life, especially words from those in some form of authority over us.

But it seems we can't even disagree with someone anymore without ending up in a verbal slanging match.

Just look at the Same-Sex debate. The nastiness and demeaning comments from proponents of both sides is just sickening and I'm so tired of it.

I believe if you feel strongly about something you have the right to express it and not be labeled and put down no matter what side of the debate you are on.

From the Bible Proverbs 15:1

Why can't we respect each other? Why can't we learn to love each other, to be kind to each other, to be gentle and speak words of life instead of words filled with hate and death?

Really though, it's a heart problem. 
When our heart is full of anger, malice, frustration, unforgiveness, impatience, intolerance, envy, mistrust, conceit, hatred, bigotry, selfishness, criticism, pain, fear and the like, that's what will come out of our mouth. So maybe we need a heart transplant!

We all speak before thinking at times, speak too harshly, unintentionally inflict pain with our words. I know I have spoken my fair share of hurtful, harmful words and they are deeply regretted, but, I also know that I have the opportunity every new day to make a difference in someone's life by taking a moment before I speak and choosing to use words that bring love and life. 

What a different world it could be if we all actually thought before we spoke and then spoke with the aim of building up instead of tearing down. Maybe there would be a lot less 'Fair Dinkum' moments.

Cheers!

Mare