Words can hurt, wound, and cut. But they can also empower,
uplift, inspire, and so much more.
Yet, on facebook, news media, and every day in the workplace
I watch the adults of this world not only state opinions and comment on ideas,
but cut one another down. Christians can be the worst. First we read Obama=
Hitler, now it’s Trump=Hitler. I’m not going to debate politics, but I am going
to say that the way we put each other down, does not build up this nation, the
leaders, or it’s people.
Yesterday, there was a news article that many of my
Christian friends cheered and posted on facebook. A news anchor called Obama a
pussy. They cheered “It’s about time.”
How is that constructive? How does that inspire debate? How does that create
new ideas. Instead it teaches disrespect of the leadership of our nation that
God tells us to respect, whether or not we agree with him or her. There are
many people whom I greatly disagree with.
I can have constructive arguments. Sometimes we agree to disagree, other
times I’m swayed or they are. Name calling and belittling of individuals or
groups of people does not allow for any of this. It becomes a show. There is no
respect, no life given through words, no encouragement, and it dampens out
hope.
Children get this message easily when I teach it. But then
someone takes the toy they want and they call that person a name or push them.
We adults are acting like these same children. We know words have power, but
when our emotional buttons are pushed we say things we wouldn’t say in person.
Teaching children about the use of social media, we always
tell them don’t put something on social media you wouldn’t say to a person face
to face with your parents present. If grown ups had this mindset, I think the
world would be a more cheerful place.
Yesterday I once again had the privilege to hear my child’s
heartbeat from within. Sometimes I worry that I am selfish to bring a child
into this world. It’s dark, full of hatred, full of hurt and wounded
individuals ready to lash out at anyone around them. But then I remember that
this child is in God’s hands. If we give him or her to God, maybe she/he can
have God’s light shine from within her. Maybe she/he can shine light into this dark world. It’s a tall
order to model that to my children. After all, sometime I’m just as guilty as
everyone else I see on social media. Sometimes I cut down my boss behind
his/her back to my husband at home. Sometimes I cut down the neighbors, a
politician, or a family member. God reminds us that our tongues are sharper
than a double-edged sword. As I think about becoming a parent, I recognize the
need to gain self-control over my tongue and my hands that type. I must show my
child the power of words, by modeling how they can make this world a better
place.
