Words are wonderful. These audible and written symbols that enable us to transfer ideas from one person’s mind to another can be wonderful or horrific. Words can heal. Words can wound. Words can restore life. Words can bring death. These sounds that come from our mouths are awesome tools for good or evil.
Words bring us joy and sorrow. Words can be fun. Betty Bobsly bought bitter butter that made her better batter bitter. Sometimes they are incomprehensible and make us rush to our dictionaries. Other times they are from a totally different language and dictionaries don’t help.
The psalmist understood. In Psalms 19:14 we read, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Our words reveal who we are. Sometimes we craft them very carefully and other times they pop out surprising even us and we say, “I can’t believe I said that!”
Solomon said, “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious…”Eccl. 10:12. Wouldn’t it be grand if our words were always gracious and healing? With God’s help we can be filled with words of life and hope to all who hear us. We can tell the story of Jesus.
Written January 26, 2003