The Power of a Word

Sometimes we don't realize how powerful our words can be.

Hey GEM girls! Have you ever said something to someone that you regretted later or spoke too soon? I'm sure we all have. Sometimes it's easy to just say things without thinking or speaking out of anger.

Our voices are powerful, and our words should be used for good; for raising people up, and not breaking them down. Speech is a gift from God, but if we're not careful, we could use it in the wrong way. In Proverbs 18:21 it says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

What does that mean? How can your tongue kill? When we say things in a mean, rude, snappy, or impatient way, it can affect others in more ways than we realize.

Let's imagine that a girl named Anna is working on some flower bouquets at church. She and her friend were hurrying to finish the project in the last hour they had left. Anna's friend, who I'll call Sarah, was getting tired of her task and began slowing down. While moving the finished bouquet to the table on the other side of the room, Sarah dropped the vase. Anna was already irritated, and this was the last straw.

"Come on, Sarah! Why can't you be more careful? That's the only vase we had left!" Anna shouted.

"Sorry Anna, I didn't mean to!" replied Sarah.

"But you always say that!" Anna continued her rant, and a heated quarrel began. Sarah was enraged at her friend's angry words. But soon the flower bouquets were finished, and she and Anna went their separate ways- without reconciling.

After supper, Sarah and her younger brother, Peter, began their evening chores. Sarah, who was still worked up over her encounter with Anna, began arguing with Peter over the dishes. Her little brother became upset and stormed out of the kitchen.

Later, before bedtime, Peter was asked to put the cat in the garage. But the cat just didn't want to do that. Still worked up from the argument with Sarah, Peter began chasing and yelling at the cat. Finally cornering it, he grabbed it angrily by the tail. Of course, the cat didn't like that at all and gave Peter a good scratching.

Everything started with Anna's quarrel with Sarah. Do you see how powerful our words can be? It's only a spark that can cause a great fire. Our words can be used either to build people up or to break them down.

"Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!" -James 3:5

Have other people's negative words affected you? Let me know how you reacted in the comments! ♥️

Blessings!