Sticks & Stones: Utter Nonsense

I’ve no doubt we’ve all heard that particular proverb, especially as children. Heck, you might have even said it yourself, at one time or another. I did, after all, and while a rock thrown at my head might do more damage than an insult, I would challenge that it is utter rubbish to think that words can do no harm. In fact, I’ll take it a step further by modifying the proverb to its more accurate counterpart: “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can… crush my soul.”

Simple, but it does serve to resonate, don’t you think? Be honest with yourself and think back on something hurtful that was said by another individual. Did you take it to heart? Nonsensical question, really. If something came to mind, then you most certainly took it to heart, because you still carry it with you. I know that I have a specific weakness for taking every verbal wound and locking it away in my secret “I’ll tell you that I’m fine but really, I want to smack you every time I think of what you said that one time” vault. Thankfully, by much prayer and divine intervention, that vault is mostly empty, but the struggle remains nonetheless.

You see, I’ve learned that words can, and at times inevitably will despite the best of intentions, wound deeply. Consider this: “The tongue is a fire… it pollutes the whole body and sets the course of life on fire…” (Excerpt from James 3:6). Now, I am not so naive as to think that everyone who reads this will know the Bible, or even agree with the precepts that it contains. I do think, however, that any rational mind can see the wisdom behind the idea of the tongue as a “fire”. Simply put, (though by a radio DJ, not myself) we have the power of life and death in our tongue. So ask yourself this each day: with the words that you allow to leave your lips, are you going to speak life over someone, or death?

Copyright © 2018 D.M. Kurtz