Yes, I know that’s the name of a song by a popular country music artist, but the sentiment rings true! And you know that saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”…it’s easy to say, but on the inside, those words can cause lasting damage, perhaps even more so than a broken bone. Bones can repair themselves and become even better and stronger than ever. But words – they can stay with you for a VERY long time!! You can’t take back something once it’s said! And I don’t know why it’s easier to believe the bad stuff people say about us rather than the good stuff, but it is. I’m not sure about the exact statistic, but I believe they say it takes something like 10 nice comments to overcome one nasty comment. Why is that??
I see and hear a lot about this among the kids in our church and Christian school! YES – our CHRISTIAN school!! It really makes me mad! And you would expect this out of a secular school, but a Christian school?? It should have no part!! Why do kids feel the need to put other kids down? Why are they so mean? To make themselves feel better about their own insecurities? Probably. And then of course, there’s that old sinful nature. I really don’t know the reason, but deep down inside, when people criticize, slander, or hurt other people, there’s a deeper issue! Hurting people hurt other people!
I’ve had this happen to me on occasion when I was younger. In the 5th grade, I was selected to sing a song along with 5-6 other girls in our Christmas program at school. The other girls were prettier or more popular than me and they couldn’t figure out why I had been chosen to sing with THEM. On the evening of the program, I sang with all my heart! A lady came up to me afterward and said, “You can tell you really love to sing! It shows all over your face!” WOW! She said that about me? I couldn’t believe it!! Then in middle school, I wanted to try out for the cheerleading squad. I practiced and practiced! I’d come home and go to my room and practice the cheers and the jumps! When it came time for the tryouts, I heard other girls say, “What is SHE doing here? If she makes it, ANYONE could make it.” And yes, those words did hurt, but I had to let go of it and move on!
And in spite of all this, God says we are to love our enemies! LOVE OUR ENEMIES??? How can we do that? WE can’t, but if we’re saved and have the Holy Spirit inside of us, He can help us if we will allow Him to. When you forgive someone, it doesn’t mean that it’s ok what they did. It simply means you no longer seek revenge and are allowing God to deal with them as He sees fit. Hebrews 10:30 says, “Vengeance (revenge) belongeth unto me, I will recompense (repay), saith the Lord.”
No, not everyone is going to be the best, or the prettiest, or the brightest! But, we all have abilities and can use what God has given us for His honor and glory. And to be honest, I’d rather hear someone sing or play the piano that maybe doesn’t hit all the notes just right and has the right heart attitude, than to listen to someone who thinks they’re better than everyone else and hit all notes perfectly! And remember, “Favour is deceitful (dishonest), and beauty is vain (useless): but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
