Words
Last evening I leaned over my dad and spoke words of love, affirming my gratitude to him for his sacrifices on behalf of his wife, his children, and countless persons to whom he has been a shepherd (as pastor of churches).
He seemed unresponsive while I talked and then prayed over him. Only when turning away did I hear a faint whisper. Mom spoke: "He said 'I love you, Harold.'"
Words. How I have come to value words that build up, that affirm, and that tell stories of beautiful things.
Cornie Mendenhall has long been with the Lord. Often when talking with her she would exclaim: "Child, that is a word picture!"
The Chinese language is based on symbols or pictures. We would do well to realize that whatever language is spoken, the words that come from our mouths are only successful if we are able to -- paint a picture in the mind of the other person to see what we are thinking.
This is the enormous challenge of speaking and writing. Twenty-six letters of the English alphabet are combined to form several hundred thousand words. The average high school graduate commands less than 20,000 words for reading and speaking. However, a few hundred words tend to make up the speaking vocabulary of most people. Just think how often we say words like: in, to, uh-huh, oh my, there, of, the, etc.
There is power in words. Many times I have listened to a man weep for the lack of having heard his earthly dad say: "I love you." We also know from research that girls who have lacked a father's pure love are much more likely to engage in promiscuous sexual behavior or sell their bodies. Words have enormous power that determines our behavior.
Jesus used words. He painted pictures with words. Sometimes, he used objects seen with the eyes to paint pictures in the minds of his listeners. In his caring for the city and people of Jerusalem Jesus talked about how a mother hen would cover little chicks with her wings, risking life to save her little ones. What a picture!
I have watched with fascination as Dad, father of nine children, has steadily moved forward to his 90th year and Home-going. As his health has deteriorated, presence of mind become less keen, and times of awareness further apart and shorter in duration, each of the eight living children has hovered over his bed waiting to hear Dad once more say their name or "I love you."
Until only days ago Dad would awaken to the call of his name and greet by name the son or daughter in front of him. Even if there were only seconds of awareness the need to say, "I love you," and to hear him whisper, "I love you, too," was a forever treasure to be hugged to the heart.
James the Apostle writes about these word pictures. He talked about the power of the tongue saying that it could be as mighty as a rudder turning a great ship, or as powerful as a fire to destroy.
Mrs. Beam was my English teacher in high school. She taught about the power of words and captured my imagination. A day soon after that lesson, I was walking to work after school. My work required a white shirt and necktie. Making life simple I wore my work outfit to high school. The shirt and tie routine were resented by a bully much larger than my frail frame of 6 feet and 120 pounds.
As I hastened along the sidewalk down Main Street of our little town, the bully was drawing closer. Realizing that running would be a psychological win for him, but not wanting my white shirt to get messed up, it was time to test Mrs. Beam's lesson on the power of words.
Turning suddenly, I pointed my finger at him only a few feet away and said rather sharply: "Do you have the audacity to doubt my veracity, and to insinuate that I have prevaricated?"
A startled look came to his face. I do not know what picture was painted in his mind with the words, but he turned and ran.
This I know: if all of our words were to be recorded in a day they would paint a picture of our heart. Our mouth speaks our heart. Who we are and what we are on the inside comes out in words from our mouth. Our character, our love, and the dreams that drive us are made clear in words that fall from our lips. What we value is easily known by the word pictures that come from our lips.
About 20 years ago, and I cannot remember from whom, a letter came to me as a pastor with very sharp words. The letter ended with a reference to the scripture "telling the truth in love." Do you think I felt the love?
Have I said that words are powerful? Have you lately looked at someone to say: "I admire you," or "I love you," or "You are a wonderful person," or "You are a blessing to me?"
It is not necessary to point out a person's weaknesses before affirming. Beautiful pictures can be painted without negatives.
Think of the power of the word "Jesus." Devils tremble at the very mention of his name. Think of pictures that come to your mind with "Resurrection." (Don't forget our Resurrection drama at Covenant Church is March 17-20…bring your friends!)
Words are remembered-for better for worse. Words with the most briars seem to stick longer. Be careful. Remember the tongue is the most dangerous member of the body (James). Say a lot of words of grace before taking the liberty to polish the rough edges of another person. Jesus called it: "taking the beam out of your own eye before trying to get a splinter out of another person's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).
Value words. The Heavenly Father would love to hear you say: "I love you, Lord."
Listen while He says back to you: "I love you, too, my child."
Hopefully, a word picture,
Pastor Bare
James 3:1-10