I Beg to Differ …
2009 October 6
Does anyone know who came up with this phrase?
”Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Does anyone agree with me that they were crazy? Words do hurt … words that are spoken … words that are not spoken … they hurt.
I need to be careful with my words …
I think his name was I.M.A. Liar!
I was in an abusive relationship for too long…never got hit…but his words left their mark just as if I had. A broken bone couldn’t have done more damage. Good thing is God can heal both broken bones and broken hearts.
The prophet James (along with God) knew just how much damage words could do. He told those Christians back then, and God kept it around so He could tell us… “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)
So I have GOT to watch what I say! And think before I speak. Words can hurt.
And you have a good point as well. Words NOT spoken can hurt too. A kind word, an “I’m sorry”, an “Are you ok?” can really change someone’s life. When those things are left unsaid, a life is left broken, or a heart is left full of doubt, or hate, or resentment.
I HATE TO THINK OF THE WORDS THAT YOU ENDURED FOR SO LONG. HOPE THAT YOU’RE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM WITH SOME ENCOURAGING WORDS THESE DAYS THAT LIFT YOU UP RATHER THAN TEAR YOU DOWN.
Yeah, words can leave a bigger bruise. This reminds me of when I get frustrated at school with something totally unrelated to the children (it usually has more to do with the adults) I find myself spewing it all over them! YIKES!!! I have to remind myself they don’t deserve to be treated that way just because I am in a foul mood! I must treat them with respect and dignity if I am to model the way I expect them to behave. I’m really trying to be diligent in this area….it’s not easy!
I WAS TALKING TO AN 8TH PERIOD STUDENT YESTERDAY. I HAD TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I WAS TAKING OUT ALL THE FRUSTRATION FROM THE CLASSES BEFORE ON THEM. I’M TRYING TO BE AWARE OF IT … WE CAN WORK ON THAT TOGETHER. SURELY IF WE’RE BOTH DILIGENT WE WILL ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.
DON’T THEY CALL THAT “KICKING THE CAT”?
“This children’s taunt was first listed in ‘Folk Phrases of Four Counties’ (1894) by G.F. Northall and is first attested in the United States in ‘Miss Lindsey’ (1936) by S.G. Gibbons.”
So, I guess a child may have come up with the phrase to use against some verbal bully…but more likely a parent invented it for their child to use as ammunition against said bully.
But the fact that this is a lie is made crystal clear to me by a moment’s reflection. Various situations come readily to my normally forgetful mind even across decades, going back to childhood, when but one stabbing word made the moment indelible so that I can’t forget it, hard as I try. I don’t wish to be the author of such moments for anybody else.
WE ALL HAVE THOSE WORDS THAT WE JUST CAN’T FORGET. I HAD A TEACHER IN JUNIOR HIGH THAT TRIED TO IMPRESS UPON US THE POWER OF WORDS. HE SAID, “THEY CAN LIVE IN A PERON’S HEART FOREVER.” HE WAS RIGHT. GOD PLEASE HELP ME TO CHOOSE MY WORDS CAREFULLY.
When someone hits you it stings for a little bit, occasionally it leaves a little mark, but for the most part its quick and jolting but when its over, its over. Words intended to slander you, on the other hand, never go away. I have been wounded both ways by someone who was supposed to love me and I have to say that I’d rather be hit than be called names, belittled, reminded of all my failures, made fun of, degraded. There was a time I didn’t protect myself from the words and it nearly destroyed me…it killed my spirit. I have learned to protect my heart from words now but its not easy…little bits get through cracks in my walls and infect my soul still today. Words will hurt you … I know for certain.
I HATE THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO YOU THAT BELITTLED, DEGRADED, AND REMINDED YOU OF FAILURES. I ASK GOD TO HELP YOU FORGET WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO HURT. MAY HE HELP YOU HEAR HIS WORDS LOUD AND CLEAR, “YOU ARE PRECIOUS … YOU ARE MINE … ALWAYS.”