"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs." - Pearl Strachan
“Hello?.....”my friend wondered why I grew quiet on the other end of the line.
“Hello?.....”my friend wondered why I grew quiet on the other end of the line.
I was trying to tell her how there were many bees active during the day coming from one of the neighbor’s overgrown bushes. It made me wary on days that I tried to mow our front lawn, avoiding any unwanted sting from any direction.
Her analytical response made me seal my mouth. For some reason, her response stung my heart and it hurt more than a bee sting…
“Well, you don’t know…maybe they don’t have the money to pay for someone to trim those bushes. You just don’t know what goes on in someone’s life…”
Her response was only truthful and it was not the reason why those words pierced my heart. It was my own reflection of how I said my own words that hurt me. I surely did not want to sound like I was an insensitive neighbor who didn’t care for what could have been going on in someone’s life. I never saw the wife after I spoke with her during one of our early morning encounters. She was so excited about her retirement and few days later, I never saw her again. Until I was cleaning in the front yard, gathering some wind-blown dry leaves and her husband was walking their dog.
“How’s D? Please tell her I say ‘hello’.”
“She couldn’t go out as much anymore,” he responded with a slight sadness but with an acceptance kind of tone with what transpired.
“She was diagnosed with ‘Fatigue Syndrome’ and it just took a lot of her strength to do anything.”
“I’ll be praying for her and please, if you need help, do not hesitate to ask us,” I offered.
“Oh, we’re okay. Sometimes, life takes a turn…”he added, evading the offer.
And pray for her and him I did. Lifting them up to the One Who knew it all and Who could do impossible things.
“Hello?...”
“Well…have a good night. Please try to get some sleep. I love you…” I finally uttered to my friend.
“Okay…Thanks for calling. Have a good night!” My heart started to feel better at that point.
My mind never stopped reflecting about how careful I must be to only let good words come out but always speak of things that have values…Words do have power and can either heal or hurt. But the change must come first from its source…The “heart”…
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
