Words

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never break me."
I remember saying that on the playground in my younger days.  Do you?
According to Wikipedia, these words were first reported to have appeared in the Christian Recorder of March 1862!
This old adage has literally repeated itself down through the generations in order to show that you cannot be hurt by the mean things that are said to you.
Did it work?
I don't think so.  
When someone said something mean to me, no matter how many times I chanted that saying, I still hurt inside.
Words are powerful.  We must be careful how we use them, because we will be known by our words, and one day we will be judged by our words.
Do we use words as our swords, or for edifying?  Do we discourage others with our words, or do we encourage others with our words?
When I was a little girl, I remember my Mom always saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  Wise words.
Proverbs 16:24 says:  "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
I don't know about you, but I want my words to help heal a wounded soul, not to wound a soul.

…..but that's just me.