Newsletter for Sanctity of Life Sunday - Part 4

The next article in our family newsletter for Sanctity of Life Sunday comes from my dearly beloved wife, Jill. She wrote a very insightful article on the use of our words and how what we speak has the power of life and death!

Words of Life and Death

Prov. 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (KJV)

Words. Kind words. Soft and gentle words. Encouraging words. Words of love. “You’re doing great!” I’m so glad you’re in my family!” “ I love you!” Words of life.

Harsh words. Sharp and cutting words. Discouraging and critical words. Hateful, angry words. “You can’t do anything right!” “I wish you had never been born!” “I hate you!” Words of death.

Words are not neutral. They can either “breathe life,” or they can “hasten death.” They can bestow a blessing, or pronounce a curse. Who has not had an illness or even just a melancholy day, but cheered up at the life-giving, thoughtful, encouraging words of a friend? Also, who has not felt the crushing weight from the words of a complaining critic? And words of anger and hatred are felt as stabs to the heart. Our physical life is preserved, but the spirit of death is felt nonetheless.

Do we claim to be pro-life with our commitment to never kill an innocent baby, yet frequently “murder” others with our harsh speech? Luke 6:45 tells us: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (KJV) As Christians, are we blessing God, but cursing men that are made in God’s image? This should not be so. (James 3:9-10)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) He expects us to be pro-life in our hearts, our actions, and our words. May we only send forth life-giving blessings whenever we speak. God bless you.