Watch Your Words– They Stick
Does anyone remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”?
Recently, someone reminded me that it’s just not true. And you know what? They were right.
Broken bones heal. But unkind words? Sometimes they linger for decades.
I can still remember things said to me many years ago—things that stung in the moment and somehow still echo in my mind today. Maybe you’ve experienced that too. A careless comment, a moment of anger, or even a joke at your expense. The person who said it might have long forgotten—or even apologized—but the words left a mark.
They changed how I felt about myself. Sometimes, they even changed how I felt about them.
It was a hard but important lesson: once our words leave our mouths, we can’t take them back.
Years ago, I was doing story time with a group of kids at church and brought out a tube of toothpaste. I had one of the children squeeze some of it out onto a plate—big fun! Then I asked them to put it back in. The room fell silent. One little boy looked at me with wide eyes and said, “But… you can’t.”
Exactly! Our words are like that. Once they’re out, there’s no way to fully undo the impact.
A friend recently told me he prays every day for his tongue to be “under the influence of the Holy Spirit.” At first, it made me laugh—because it reminded me of the phrase driving under the influence. But the more I thought about it, the more powerful it became.
Imagine our words being led not by impulse or irritation, but by love, patience, and peace.
Since that conversation, I’ve started praying the same thing. That my tongue, my words, would be “under the influence”—of the Holy Spirit. That what comes out of my mouth would build up and not tear down. Encourage, not discourage. Heal, not harm.
Because words are powerful. And we get to choose how we use them.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I’m the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I’m passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to help others care well for their health and the bodies God has given us. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
June 12, 2026, Morning Brew
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