WORDS
Proverbs 13:3 “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”
Lord Jim: “There is a weird power in the spoken word, and a word carries very far, and can give destruction through time as the bullets go flying through space. We are to re-talk God’s talk. We are the Butler, not the chef. God has already spoken; we need to re-speak what he spoke.”
How often we have heard in growing up “that sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Sounds good, but we know that this is not true. I have dealt with many people over the years who had words spoken to them that caused damage to their emotional stability and even after many years still haunts them.
Words motivate others and can make us a better communicator and so we need to keep in mind that communication is key – no matter what we might want out of life.
I have found with my wife, because of her brain damage through an aneurysm and a lost coil that caused a stroke, that some simple words are beneficial in helping her.
Words, even simple words, have tremendous power. For example, the word ‘but.’ An amazingly simple one syllable word, however, the word ‘but’ is known as either an ‘eraser’ or ‘enhancer.’
What do I mean? When we see the word, ‘but’ it erases what was said before and brings in something new after. A good example of this is found in Ephesians 2. Paul is describing what man is like and how he is like a puppet in the hands of our spiritual enemy. After he describes man outside of Christ, in comes the word ‘but.’ “But God,” in His grace mercy gives us a way out.
Another important word is the word ‘yes.’ We need to learn to use this word more, in a right way, and the word ‘no’ less. It is a known fact that one thing we all fear is rejection and because of that we find the word ‘yes’ ingrained in our makeup, not wanting to be rejected. It does not mean that at times we do use the word ‘no,’ but what I mean is that ‘yes’ brings in a more positive attitude, because our brains are made for the positives and not the negatives concerning the life and purposes that God has given us.
Another important word is ‘because.’ It can help people to see the reason before they act, or that which is behind what they think or believe. ‘Because’ gives us a reason for what we see or go through. When we have a reason, we are more confident and prone to act.
‘If’ is another important word. This word helps to guide people through a decision in the proper way. We find people often coming and saying “I cannot do this (whatever it might be),” but we can come along and say: “What would you do ‘if’ you could…..?” This word can guide people’s thinking in a certain direction.
One thing that my wife and I are learning is the word ‘help.’ When someone asks for help it gives a sense of importance and being needed. It has the tendency to keep the motivation high.
Another amazingly simple word, but important is the word ‘thanks.’ This word makes people feel more valued as well as motivated. When I do something for my wife in her 24/7 care, she will respond by saying “thanks.” To be honest, it makes me feel important and needed and motivates me to keep on keeping on.
The last three years since my wife’s aneurysm I have been doing a lot of reading and research on how best to help my wife and see her brain rewire itself. It is taking time, but I have found that amazingly – simply words – have a powerful impact, and these are some of the words that I am using with my wife.
I had mentioned at the beginning: “We are to re-talk God’s talk. We are the Butler not the chef. God has already spoken; we need to re-speak what he spoke.”
We are to live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. While reading and meditating on the Word, there will be a sentence, paragraph or even a chapter that will speak to me and when it does I will speak it out loud, knowing that God’s Word will not come back to Him without accomplishing that for which the Word was sent.
Let us remember the words of Martin Luther: “I STAND ON THE WORD OF GOD.”