Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me……was an English rhyme that I often heard in primary school. Undoubtedly, you are all familiar with this rhyme, which focuses on the lie that hurtful words cannot cause any physical pain and thus should be ignored or disregarded. As a school, we have been focusing on ‘community’ and using our God-given gifts to build each other. In the last few weeks, at Monday Line-Up, we have focused on the power of words and using words to encourage others. In the Bible, God shows us the power of words, and God also gives us clear commands about using our words wisely. Last week, I spoke to our students about how our words can pierce like swords – they get into your heart and soul. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise bring healing…The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 12:18, 18:21)
We know the truth - that sticks and stones can break our bones, but words can be soul-destroying. Tim Keller, a well-known Christian author, comments that you can never make things as if they had never been uttered when you say hurtful words. It is like a wound from a sword. The wound may heal, but your body will never be the same as if the sword had never cut you. The scar remains. We also know that words can wound but also heal! As it says in Proverbs that the tongue can be soothing and a tree of life. From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands being them rewards…The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit." (Proverbs 12:14,15:4)
I spoke with students about an artist's illustration that Keller gives about how words affirm and validate us. Imagine an artist who does a painting. Does he say, "I don't care that everyone says it's trash; I like it"? If he indeed takes pride in his work, someone else will need to offer words of praise for the art. When I gave them this illustration, I highlighted to our students that we know that God speaks to us through his Word, and His Word has the living power to relate us to God and change our minds and hearts! I encouraged our students to ask God to help them guard their lips and bless someone else with words. We hope that at Northern Christian School we will be a community where we build each other up; where we are kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. Miss Bethany Armstrong - Principal
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