Words Never, I mean Sometimes.......Forget it...THEY CAN RUIN A LIFE

²³ Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” ²⁴ Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.  2Kings 2:22-24

The saying " Stick and stones may break my bones but words, will never hurt me." has it's origins as early as 1894 and truthfully....this is a lie.  In today's scriptural reference Elisha being a young kid, and kids being somewhat identity sensitive early in age, was walking home when he was confronted by this mob of hurtful other kids.   He was a young prophet and bald, and the kids thought it would be fun to pick on him, only to discover that their fun was short lived.   Elisha hadn't heard this saying " Stick and stones........" and frankly didn't appreciate their poking fun at his appearance and cursed them in the name of the Lord resulting in a blood bath.

Now here's why my thinking get's TWISTED:  Maybe you haven't called out two she bears, but what have you said to people that have mauled them.  See according to the WORD Proverbs 18:21a  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and this negates the belief that our words don't hurt.  Actually some of you who are reading this are where you are because of WORDS that people spoke to you.     Think of all the young ladies with low self-esteem.  Some of them actually believe beyond their bodies, they have nothing to offer.    Think of all of the young men, that are 30+ years old that were told they'd be like their "no good" father who believed it, and now are really no good.    Think of the people that work @ McDonald's, Wal-Mart, etc...who you see them and you look down upon them, especially if they appear to be "ghetto or hoosier like" or young men or ladies that dress in such a way that you are appalled.....do you speak life into the them, or under your breath, or in your heart say words that would further damage their tissue paper egos?

Think of the great men and women of our time and in your life, what did _____________ say to them?   It's important to note God says we are salt and light, His thoughts of us outnumber the granules of sand, He loves us so much He sacrificed His own son...that's how much you're valued.  

My prayer is that today you see with Christ like eyes...the value of the crazy driver that cut you off, the tired mom who checks you out at the grocery store, or the old door greeter who has to work to have insurance for her sick husband, the scantly dressed young lady who endures abuse and longs for encouraging words, and even the couple who needs a hand up to see GOD is really good.  May you enter the world in such a way that you preserve the dying, and illuminate their day with  the radiance of God through your living and your words.   LGLP