Words Can Hurt

My wife and I have just returned from a week in Destin, Florida. We had a wonderful time on the beach and it was as beautiful as ever. Before our trip several of our friends asked us, “why are you still going to Florida, aren’t you afraid the oil will ruin your trip?” We told everyone that there wasn’t any oil where we were going and even if there was we would still go because of how nice the city of Destin is to visit. Just as we expected, we found the beach to be as clean as ever and the water to be as clear and clean as ever. Everything was great except for one thing; the people who live there have suffered all summer from the lack of tourists.

That’s right, even though everything was just as nice and beautiful as it ever was the people who provide food, entertainment and water sport related activities have been devastated. Their problem was not the oil, but the reporting from all the news networks that there was oil and that this was a terrible time to visit the gulf coast of Florida. Now to be fair, there were several weeks ago one spot on the beach way up the coast from Destin, which did have a small amount of oil, but it, was never anything like the network news stations reported. The damage is done, the words have been spoken and the result was a drop of more than 50% in the number of tourists coming to Destin this summer. Many of the people we spoke with have earned 25 – 50 percent of what they normally earn during the summer months. Some businesses have completely shut down.

So what is the lesson? Words can hurt. If the right person or group say negative comments about you or your business it can cause a great deal of harm to both you and your business. On a more personal basis you and I should be very careful with the words we speak. I have always appreciated the wise words given to Thumper in the story of Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Truly words to live by.

The writer of James says we should be “quick to listen and slow to speak”. Paul instructs you and I to build up each other and encourage one another. So the question for you and me is simply this, do your words build up and encourage or do they tear down and discourage those who hear your words? As you and I go through this week let us be careful to watch each word we speak to others. Your words will make a difference in someone’s life this week. The question is, will your words make their day or will your words be hurtful. As a matter of fact, it should be a goal each day for you and me to find someone to encourage and build up with the words that we speak to him or her. When you think about it, most people hear too many negative words spoken to them on a daily basis. Most of us could use a daily dose of encouragement. So what do you say, how about making it your mission in life to find at least one person each day to build up and encourage. You will make someone’s day and be a blessing to him or her. Who knows, maybe they will pass the good words along to someone else.

Father God, may the words of my mouth be acceptable to your ears and helpful to others.

Love God. Go Love Others.