What We Say

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger.  Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. – Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)

 

How have you been hurt by what others have said?  What have you said in anger, depression or sadness that has hurt someone else?  Who has said words that have helped you become stronger?  What did they say, and why did you need to hear them?  How will you say things to make sure you will do good to those who listen to you?

 

The following story is called the Wise Sage and was e-mailed to me:

There once was a wise sage who wandered the countryside.  One day, as he passed near a village, he was approached by a woman who told him of a sick child nearby. She beseeched him to help this child. 

So the sage came to the village, and a crowd gathered around him, for such a man was a rare sight.

One woman brought the sick child to him, and he said a prayer over her.
 "Do you really think your prayer will help her, when medicine has failed?" yelled a man from the crowd.



"You know nothing of such things! You are a stupid fool!" said the sage to the man. 



The man became very angry with these words and his face grew hot and red. He was about to say something, or perhaps strike out, when the sage walked over to him and said: "If one word has such power as to make you so angry and hot, may not another have the power to heal?" 



And thus, the sage healed two people that day.

 

Words can heal people!  Words can also hurt people.  This Advent season prepare your hearts to accept the Word of God made flesh in Jesus the Christ again!  When you do everything you say will have Christ in it, and everything you say will heal others, will make others stronger, and will do good to all who listen to you!

With hope and joy,

Garrett