sticks and stones

May break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

Well that's a little bit of a lie! I've been thinking about why people's words can cut us deep sometimes, why they cause us to be left speechless and dealing with a knot in the pit of our stomach and a ball in our throat.

Do you know what I'm talking about? Someone making a comment, usually nonchalantly, that just cuts you in the wrong way?

I think a lot of the time some people speak with such honesty that they lack the grace - or vice versa. This leads to conflict, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings. For me, most of the comments that hurt the most are the comments that I know are true, but refuse to believe on my own.

So when it is addressed publicly and by another person, my immediate reaction is to blame them for throwing the sticks and stones, when in reality my bone was broken the entire time.

But then there are other times, when the comments are just plain insults from those that you love the most, those are painful. Those comments create a wound that is deep, jagged, and usually struggles to heal.

I don't understand God's plan with those wounds, I don't understand why conversation has the potential to be hurtful, and I really don't like that I'm sure I've caused quite a few wounds in my lifetime as well.

I do understand that God is great, his words are true and honest, and that His intention is never to hurt us but to love us, guide us, help us, and teach us.

He heals the broken.