Our words should never careless be. They carry power we do not see. But, if that power can devastate, It can also liberate!
How do I know words are powerful? When I was a youth of maybe 13-14–a very awkward and gawky age for me, my dear Aunt Gwen came for a visit. As we conversed casually, she told me that I had beautiful hands. No one had ever said that to me, and she was serious about her observation. She even said that my hands could be photographed for magazine ads about hand cream, or whatever. Simple statement. Powerful? Yes, I remember those words even 60 years later, and recall that I have often reflected on them, and somehow, no matter how unlovely I ever felt in the past, those words told me again and again that I was special; that I was worthwhile; that someone saw good and beauty in me. What a powerful little statement. Do we ever tell our children, grandchildren, spouses, or friends something good that we see in them? Think about it. It could change someone’s life for the better.
On the other hand. I remember, as a youth again, standing at the kitchen sink, when one of my cousins made the observation that my profile looked like an Indian. Innocent comment. Nothing to feel bad about, but it made me extremely self conscious of my profile appearance, and, to this day, I don’t like my profile to be photographed! We can all be unreasonably sensitive, and quick to read something in a comment that was never intended.
