power of words.
eunicee jotted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 @ 11:58 PM
a SUNFLOWER.
what comes to your mind? let me see, yellow petals, a green stalk with big leafy leaves, and a brown-blackish centre. a sweet girly thing isn't it?
how about, a RAINBOW?
hmm, a seven-coloured bow, pretty in the sky. awesome sight!
now how about, UGLY. or maybe, WHY AREN'T YOU AS GOOD AS HIM/HER.
i wonder what impressions are formed in your mind. hmm.
i really learnt about the power of words during two lectures in SERVE, and how certain words have already subconciously formed certain specific impressions in our minds. (can you imagine what forms in the mind of a child, when the parent scolds, YOU ARE SO STUPID WHY CAN'T YOU EAT YOUR FOOD PROPERLY or something.) and these lessons have come to my mind lately, as, well, i experienced something interesting in my life!
well, there was this once, i got so sick - and i really mean it - just sick in the gut because of people telling me how aunty i am and look, how blahblahblah. and blah. i got horrendously tired of such things, because it makes me feel how insufficient i am compared to the rest of the world. always needing and striving to look pretty and trendy seemingly are so important to people, which i won't deny they are in reality. but, it is just too tiring. and disgusting. have you experience this exasperation before?
well, of course i got over this stage of feeling incompetent, because i know my value is not of such things, instead, i know of God who loves me just the way i am, not looking at the way i dress or how capable i am, what i can do and what i can't do. and that i'm already grateful for the things God has alrdy provided for me - the clothes i have, the bag i carry, the gifts He gave - these truly are sufficient. besides, i do know they are just joking, even though subconciously it did affect me. but, the point that i want to bring up is, what if the person you're saying unedifying words of any kind to, does not have assurance in Jesus? even though, you meant it as a joke? how would he or she feel?
Like the impact of parents saying to a child "stupid", we must realise the impact of our words. I too, must admit, that sometimes my words aren't edifying, and we all need the transforming power of God to be more Christ-like each day. just as paul says to edify one another in 1 Thess 5:11, so shall we all aim to speak forth words that will not destroy others, but to build each other up.
whee, just a rant much needed.
