WORDS

I am working on re-learning the blog code - so hang with me while I work on learning how to customize my header picture and layout to best suit our family and this blog's purpose. Last night, Shawn and I were having an argument and he said, "when we were dating, you said . . . ." I was so taken aback because that was 18 years ago and I can vaguely remember saying that phrase jokingly and ignorantly. But as I was contemplating this last night and how I wish I would have never said those words, even jokingly, I thought about how POWERFUL words are, and yet they can be powerless as well- it all depends on the person receiving those words and their identity in relation to Christ. Being mature and secure in your identity in Christ can give you POWER to receive words or to ignore words in your life. When I was a small child, a close relative lived close to my grade school so we would often visit after school and on holidays/summer breaks. It was a special time and usually much looked forward to. This person always made special meals for my siblings and I- special macaroni and cheese, graham crackers with chocolate frosting, delicious cookies, and about anything we asked them to make us. However, I remember words that changed the course of my life. Once or twice, this person told me (probably causally and not maliciously) to watch what I ate because I didn't want to grow up to be "fat." As a skinny youngster, I had no idea that I could become fat- it wasn't even something I had considered growing up. I grew up on a farm where we ate fresh beef, pork, chickens, fresh grown vegetables, homemade bread, etc. We didn't have words like paleo, gluten-free, keto, etc. But somehow the fear of being fat became ingrained within me at such a young age. By the time I was 12 I feared "fat" so much that I would starve myself little by little until my addiction to anorexia became full-blown and a severe battle for years that followed. The word "fat" carried so much fear in my little mind that I wrapped my identity on that. Fat determined if I was worthy of living or worthy of having friends, or worthy to have one more Oreo at a party. For so long, those words in my life almost killed me several times. It's a battle I have started to come to terms with and share more openly. Some words bring powerful hurt and destruction, but some words can be meaningless and unworthy of time. Sometimes people will say "how are you?" but really not care- these words are "common courtesies" and not really meant to be worth a full blown discussion. Sometimes words like "I'm sorry" don't mean much when the actions do not back up the words. Words like "I love you" can take a different meaning as humans warp the meaning of love. Words are important to God in our life- He shows the power of words by using simple words to breathe everything into existence- talk about POWER in words! Jesus BECAME The Word and dwelt among us. God didn't go into a length discourse about who and what He is- He used two very simple words: "I AM." He gives us much advise all throughout Scripture on the power in our words and harmful our tongue can be- using words of the POWER of LIFE or DEATH! Words can bring LIFE or DEATH- the power is up to the person receiving them. I am not trying to victim shame- quite the opposite, I am trying to help you understand that we are more than conquerors over lies, hurt, and deception that are spoken to us or said about us. If we allow those words to have power in our life, they can bring death. I experienced that very thing in my own life. I fought back from near-death many times because of words that I let have power in my mind and over my soul. Had I have had security and confidence in my self as a dear child of Christ, equipped for battle against the evil words of this world, I would have withstood those years much better. Alas, though, the lessons are learned. I try to speak gracefully to others and monitor my words as much as I can, but I'm a sinful human being and I've hurt so many more people than I know with my words. I have wallowed in grief over the hurt I may have caused in anger or vengeance. I would always tell myself- I will never speak to my kids like that. I will never talk about weight. I will never say . . . . But, I've failed. I'm sure I've said the things I swore I'd never say, plus things worse than that. I am remorseful for that and have repented from those errors. Instead of focusing simply on what I say or don't say, I want to also teach my family to stand strong in their identity in Christ. Ultimately, we can never control what is said to or about us, but when we believe the Truth and stand upon His word, our feet are steady against the storm.