Character Tree 4: WORDS
April 19th, 2009 by Suzie Potter received No Comments »
“Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but Names will never hurt me.” I remember saying this little rhyme as a child to someone who just called me a bad name. I think I was trying to talk myself into not feeling hurt by what was just said. But for me, it didn’t work. WORDS are powerful, whether they are true or not.
Think with me for a moment of when someone said WORDS that were NEGATIVE to you. How did it make you feel? Now I want you to give a “thumb vote”. Make your hand into a fist with only the thumb sticking out. Now give me a “thumb vote”. Point your thumb up if it felt really great, thumb down if it was not so great, and thumb out to the side if you feel neutral about it. Were the WORDS spoken true or not? It doesn’t matter, hurtful WORDS normally make us feel bad. It is like pushing you down on a trampoline.
Now think with me for a moment when someone said something nice to you, and the WORDS were POSITIVE. How did that make you feel? Now give me a “thumb vote” on this one. Positive words normally make us feel good. It is like bouncing you up while on a trampoline.
Which of the two types of WORDS (negative or positive) would you choose to have said to you? I am definitely choosing the positive WORDS!
Of the 5 love languages (described by Gary Chapman) one of the most powerful for me is “WORDS OF AFFIRMATION” (“touch” and “gifts” are also high for me, but feel free to give me “quality time” and “acts of service” too!). If we know our love languages, we know how to “fill our own emotional tanks” with the right fuel for energy. If a friend says something kind to me, telling me how great I am, what I did to help them, or what they like about me . . . my tank gets filled with those WORDS and I get boosted up. But, when a friend says something negative to me (even if it is true and necessary), it can devastate me. Even if people don’t have the love language of “WORDS OF AFFIRMATION”, they are affected by your WORDS!
1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in SPEECH, life, love, faith, and purity.” Do you know that even though you are young, the way you use your WORDS can set an example to others – - – they could learn from you!
Don’t forget that whatever is in the heart comes out of our mouth (See Matthew 5:18)! So, if you are wondering what is going on in your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes . . . check the condition of your WORDS! Grow your Character tree further with your actions, habits and into your Character.
When we talk about our NET (that group of people who are around you to support you – both adults and close friends), one of the ways to bounce others up is with our WORDS. Josiah loves to bounce me up high when we are on the trampoline together. He has a way of jumping at just the right time to send me soaring into the air with one properly placed jump. Of course I scream and laugh and end up coming down after awhile. But I love the way he can “bounce me up”! Why don’t we give it a try, using our encouraging, positive WORDS to “bounce” others up in the coming days!
Tags: Character Tree, words
Posted under: NEX-GEN Everywhere, Uncategorized
