The Power of Words
“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you!” I heard this as a child and was not challenged to think it untrue. But it is…untrue, that is. Words can make or break you, kind words can lift up and change lives, unkind or cruel words can tear down and destroy.
My first experience with the power of words was in high school. My family was a typical American family, my mom did not use bad language or yell at us. My sisters were normal girls, with the usual sister fights, my brother was 6 years younger and we all babied him. So, there was mostly quiet in my home. My dad worked hard and had 2 jobs and was usually amiable and ready to relax when he got home at night, although he came from a feisty Italian/Spanish family. We moved a lot and Mom’s ever positive attitude helped foster a spirit of contentment from each place to the next.