speak light

"words that do not give the light of christ increase the darkness" 

-mother teresa

words carry weight

that can batter and wound

and equally

refresh and encourage. 

words are not to be taken lightly,

ever. 

i sometimes forget that, and it has cost me. 

some of us have been hurt beyond measure by words. 

long ago I went through a season,

where I was repeatedly hurt by words from a friend. 

gossip, blatant put-downs, humiliation in front of others. 

in that time, my soul of freedom morphed into a sopping mess that quickly put up it's defenses. 

i went from a carefree school girl into a prison of self-consciousness. 

because these words from this friend were personal (often times personal attacks),

 i became conditioned to think that all who teased me were truly making personal attacks on my character. 

and so i began to live out of my wounds

scared that almost anything I said would be wrong, worried that I was somehow offending someone by some action, and all sorts of other small nuances.

my poor spirit analyzing every move I made in hopes that I didn't offend anyone. 

and the wounded often wound. 

for i am no better than this friend, as I too have hurt people by my unkind words.  

out of my own hurt came words that did not bring light, and did not encourage. 

often times I didn't mean for them to hurt, but i'm realizing that we must be so careful with what we utter.
will it bring life?

and in this last season, the Lord has mercifully and most poignantly

pointed out the tandem power of words and grace. 

grace for others when they have wounded us.

grace that will hopefully stop us from saying anything in our pain that would hurt the other. 

grace that allows us to forgive and step out of the festering pain of our wounds. 

and grace for ourselves when we mess up and bring darkness with our words. 

because grace covers all. 

romans 14:19 says 

"let us therefore make every effort to do what lead to peace and to mutual edification" 

words that bring darkness do not lead to peace or edification. 

ever. 

remember that. 

so may we be people who only utter the LIGHT OF CHRIST. 

may we be realists, who despite living with pain, recognize the absolute need for kindness even in truth.

because words of LIGHT bring life.
they are fountains of water to refresh,
ushering JOY anew.

so may our words be filled with peace and edification,

always. 

speak LIGHT today dearest friends, 

love katie