It’s Time To Put Our Words Into Action!

Do you ever feel like you just need a break? Sometimes, I just wish time would slow down a little. Anyone else? My son turns four next month, and I’m sitting here wondering how that’s even possible. When I was a kid, my parents always warned me that when I got older, it would feel as though time were slipping from my fingers. Well, they were right. That’s exactly what it feels like!

I wish I had a remote that would allow me to hit the pause button, or a button where I could put everything into slow motion. Maybe then, I would be able to hold onto each precious moment a little while longer. Even better, I wish there was a button where I could rewind and tweak a few things. I know you can’t change the past no matter how much you wish it, but you can always learn from it!

Your mistakes don’t define you, nor does your past. In fact, when you apply what you’ve learned from your past, to your life currently, it can be a total game changer. You then can be an example and help teach others. You can then be a leader, instead of a follower.

I’ve said and done plenty of things that I wish I could go back and change. We all have our regrets. Unfortunately, once words have left your lips, they’re out, and there’s no way of taking them back. I’m sitting here visualizing an infinite amount of tiny strips of paper, with words written on them, floating around in a wall-less, empty, never ending space. All of the words from the beginning of time, that have ever been said. Words we have said to ourselves, and words we have said to others. The words people said before we were born, and the words of the people before those people, and so on. Think about it, that’s A LOT of words!

Like it or not, words follow you. You can try to tuck them far away, into the back filing cabinet of your mind, you can try to forget that they were ever said, you can even try to throw them away, hoping to never see or hear of them again. It doesn’t matter how much effort you put in trying to dispose of them, because they always manage to pop back up on you. One way or another, you will be reminded of words you have said to someone, or words someone else has said to you. Often, Satan will use words others have said to you, as a tool to discourage and break you! I find this to be especially true when I feel like I’m on the right path that God wants me to be on.

This is where my post from last week titled Find Your Purpose and Fulfill It!, comes in. All of those comments I listed, Satan loves using for distraction. He wants you to feel as though you are nothing, like you don’t belong. He wants you to believe the lie that you are worthless and have no purpose in this world. He wants you to feel miserable. You can’t allow him to win!

Words are fascinating. It’s funny, I started this post today, with the intention of writing about time and how we use the time that we are given…but somehow, it got turned around to the topic of words. I guess time will have to be a topic of discussion for another day, because I feel like God was leading me to write about words instead. It’s interesting how He does that!

We have to be extremely careful in how we use our words, both in speaking and writing; or in today’s world, texting and typing. I’ve seen so many news stories on cyber bullying on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We’ve all seen and heard of several horrific school shootings, that stemmed from the shooter being bullied and wanting revenge. I will never forget the story of the shooting at Columbine High School. I remember when I was in middle school, we did “Rachel’s Challenge.” A long banner was hung up on the wall of the school gym, and all of the students went up and signed their names. It looked just like this one:

The crazy thing is, all of the students at my school scribbled their name on it, but went right back to using their hurtful words. The bullying continued, and nothing changed. You can’t just say you’re going to do better, you have to be better. Words don’t mean anything without action behind them. Think about a sentence for example: “The girl.” The girl what? We know nothing about the girl, so therefore, the sentence is incomplete. When we add an action to “The girl”, we can then see what the significance behind “The girl” is. For example, “The girl ran away from home.”, or, “The girl showed kindness to the boy at school, and the girl and the boy became friends.” See the difference?

Words without action are meaningless. You can say you are going to do something, but until you actually put those words into action, they’re simply that: words. This is something we all can have a difficult time with. It doesn’t have to be this way though. You just have to make it a point everyday to be better than you were the day before. Think before you act, and think before you speak. As my mom has always taught me, “Try to put yourself on the receiving end. How would you feel, if someone said what you were about to say, to you?” If you would be hurt, it’s probably best to keep it to yourself. However, sometimes the truth hurts. If a friend of your’s is asking you for advice, sometimes they need to hear the truth. The truth doesn’t always make you feel good. You need to have discernment. God can provide you the wisdom to be able to decipher between the two.

When my grandma died, I learned the value of words, especially those words last spoken. I make it a point to tell those closest to me that I love them, especially when saying goodbye to them. You never know when someone close to you will be taken from you. You never know when the words you share with them, could be your last words. What were the last words you shared with your spouse this morning? What were the last words you both shared before you went to sleep last night? What about the last words with your children?

Make it a point everyday, to show meaning and action behind the things that you say. Say something kind to someone today, it might be just what they need to hear, to brighten their day! If you’ve said something hateful or hurtful to someone, make it right, before it’s too late. They won’t forget the things you said to them, but they can forgive those things, given enough time. Ahh, there it is, the topic I was originally trying to write about: time. Use the time God has given you, to spread around the love and joy that God has provided for you.

Copyright © 2019 Angela J. Stout.