Words Have Weight

Whether we like to admit it or not, our words have weight.

Please.
Thank-you.
You're welcome.
God Bless.
I miss you.
I love you.
How are you?
Is there anything I can do?
Friend.

So often we say these things without thinking about the weight that they carry. 

We pass by someone in the office and say, "How are you?" without breaking our stride to hear the answer.  We ask someone in need, "Is there anything I can do?" while we silently hope that their response is, "no, thank you."  We are quick to speak and slow to listen... I am pretty sure James warned us about this very thing.

We say things that we think others won't hear.
We say things that are meant to be taken lightly.
We say things about people that we hope won't get back to them.
We say things we shouldn't.

Sometimes, we are genuinely sorry.  We realize that our words were wrong, hurtful, deceptive, mean, or just ridiculous.  At that point, we have a choice.  We can choose to own up to our words, apologize, accept responsibility, and move on.  OR... We can choose to sugar-coat, deny, and make excuses.

As I have been navigating the seas of a hurting heart this week, I have been reminded of how heavy words are.  Words were spoken that cut me to the core.  This situation has reminded me how important it is to watch what I say and how I say it.

No one is immune to having a "stupid mouth" as John Mayer so eloquently puts it.  In this "stupid mouth" society I strive to be "quick to listen and slow to speak" as James instructs.  Easier said than done... but it is something to strive for.