Little Things Can Hurt

**LONG POST WARNING**

The other day I donated blood.

Have you ever noticed how the finger poke to check your hemoglobin hurts worse than the needle that sucks your blood out? At least it’s that way for me.

When they put in the needle for the blood donation (which you can see in the picture is a good size), I barely felt it. They know what they’re doing, and it was a very smooth and [mostly] relaxing experience.

That finger poke, however…that stuck (pun absolutely intended) with me for a few days afterward. That sucker hurt!! I had to keep a bandaid on it to cushion it so I could even get anything done. Whenever something touched it, I reacted. Oof!

You know what? Small things can hurt.

Case in point: Splinters. Paper cuts. Pimples. Pokey eyelashes. Hangnails. A jammed knuckle. Ingrown hair.

All of these things are small, but they sure make their presence known. Often you have to adjust the way you normally do things to accommodate their presence and healing.

Isn’t life like that, too?

The big stuff we get through with faith, support of our family, friends, church…people bring meals, they offer words of comfort and hope, they flock around us to lift us up.

But many times we are wounded from ‘small’ things that no one else knows about. And those seem to hurt more and stick with us longer…

That negative off-hand comment from a friend about how you raise your kids. That smirk as someone tells you what you’re consuming isn’t ‘real food’, but theirs is. That word spoken to you in anger that the person doesn’t even believe but says anyway. Someone thanking God they don’t struggle with something you just shared with them about yourself.

These things are small. They are but a breath in conversation. Just a moment in a 24 hour period. A blip on the radar in light of eternity. Yet, they hurt. And they can stay with you.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. “

What a lie.

Words shape our perspectives and beliefs about ourselves, the world around us, other people- some whom we’ve never even met…and they affect what we think about God.

Words. Matter.

I have met a lot of people in my lifetime, and have found that some people just say whatever comes into their heads, not stopping for a second to think whether it sounds ugly. Or mean. Or judgmental. Or if it’s even true. They embellish to make themselves sound better. Or a situation more dramatic.

They spout off on any and every subject whether they’ve been asked their opinion or not. They are oblivious to how they make other people feel with their words. They just say whatever they want and move on with their lives.

This is not okay.

Proverbs 29:20 “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

If you name the name of Jesus, please watch your words. Do not be hasty in your words. Do not wrongly represent your Savior by the way you speak to other people. You never know how your words will affect someone else.

Think. Slow down. Maybe just stop speaking altogether.

Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”
Psalm 141:3 “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Proverbs 21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
Proverbs 17:27-28
(27) “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
(28) Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

The Bible tells us again and again that words have power- both for good and evil.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
James 3:5-10
(5) “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
(6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
(7) For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

We should focus more on God’s Words than our own. His words are true, and right, and good.

Proverbs 2:1-5
(1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
(2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
(3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
(4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
(5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Psalm 119:130-131
(130) “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
(131) I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.”
1 Timothy 1:13 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s be determined to be people who love others. Who speak life. Who realize the power of words, and take seriously the impact we have on someone else.

There is so much good we can do with our words!
Proverbs 16:23-24
(23) “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
(24) Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
Proverbs 12:25 “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”
Proverbs 15:23 “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”

Lord, let it begin with me.
Psa 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”