The Wonderful Word for this Wednesday is ‘Words’.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” right?
WRONG! Have you ever heard anything so untrue?! C’mon already. Words can hurt so bad you can’t sleep at night. Words can make your chest literally hurt and your heart ache for reals. In fact, I actually think I’d rather someone hit me with a stick than call me a name. The surface wounds heal MUCH faster than the internal pain from words that hurt.
I have always had an affinity for words. I LOVE the written word, and I love writing words.
Reading is a comfort to me. There was a long stretch of time that I carried a book with me at all times like a security blanket (now it’s a sketchbook and art supplies). I felt panic if I didn’t have it with me when I was out and about.
The words in books can carry us to far away places and give us amazing visual images. They bring us characters that we can relate to and therefore feel less alone. Words in books can also bring us fear and despair.
The thing about books is that we get to choose the words we bring into our home and our minds. When a book gets too scary or brings us feelings we do not like, we can simply close the book. I’ve actually gone so far (only once) as to throw a book right in the garbage when the words were hurtful. I simply didn’t want to put it back out in the world!
Words from others, written or spoken, can bring healing and understanding but they can also bring conflict and pain. When others speak to us, we can’t control the words coming out of their mouths. We cannot just simply close them up and throw them away. We have to hear the words others say or write to us and deal with them.
Getting Personal
My youngest has been dealing with some particularly mean words at school and we are trying to help him navigate his responses both externally and internally. It’s hard! You can’t just sing the little ditty I started out with above as it’s simply untrue. We are working through it, but it’s not easy.
If you are a human here on earth, you’ve experienced mean words directed at you. You’ve also surely observed mean words directed at someone else. Furthermore, you’ve said things you wish you could suck right back into your mouth. My son is not alone, we’ve all been through it.
There is this poem by Letitia Elizabeth Landon that has stuck with me over the years. It goes like this:
‘Tis a strange mystery, the power of words!
Life is in them, and death. A word can send
The crimson colour hurrying to the cheek.
Hurrying with many meanings; or can turn
The current cold and deadly to the heart.
Anger and fear are in them; grief and joy
Are on their sound; yet slight, impalpable:–
A word is but a breath of passing air.
I want there to be a line at the end that asks, “So think before you speak!
In Conclusion
Here’s the deal friends, we cannot control what others say or do, but we can work on controlling ourselves.
What do we want to speak into the world? What message do we want to send to others knowing that once a word is spoken, it cannot be sucked back in and erased. Even when someone is mean towards us and we feel rage, can we think the words in our heads in the moment and not speak them? Can we give it 30 minutes and then see if we still want to say them?
Here are some words I want to speak to you today:
- You are uniquely YOU, for a reason and a purpose.
- You matter.
- You ARE creative.
- You have the power to speak life and love to those around you.
How will you use your words today? Will you write out a quote in beautiful calligraphy and hang it on the wall? Will you write an uplifting message to a friend? Will you say, “I see you and I hear you” to someone who needs to know that today?
I know none of this is new to you, but it’s a good reminder, right? AND, it’s what’s on my heart this week to share.
Go forth friends! Use your words wisely! Make beautiful words!
Kimberly Snider, Virtuoso, Signing off
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