This past weekend, I had someone be rude to me for no reason. They haven’t always been what you would call a “friend”, but we have worked together, shared meals together and have lots of mutual friends. I know this person loves the Lord, but their rudeness caught me off guard and it was totally uncalled for, in my opinion. I was so shocked by it, that I made a joke and tried to shake it off, but by the time I got home and talked with a couple of people about the encounter, I was hurt as I retold the story several times.
Listen, I have extremely tough skin. The ministry and being self-employed has given me the ability to handle hard and heavy things that might be dropped and shattered by others. That’s not to brag on my own abilities, but just to say that I am not a whiner that gets my feelings hurt over silly things.
This wasn’t silly. This really hurt.
I was hurt because this person calls themselves a Christian.
Now, I know what you are thinking…so I will say it for you.
Ashlee, you’re not perfect. You’ve been rude before. You have probably hurt someone’s feelings, too.
Yes, you’re right. I sure have. However, her response did not match my cordial greeting and light-hearted conversation. I have decided to file it under “she was having a bad day” in my mind and move on. But, in the midst of that situation, it got me thinking about the power of the tongue, because I was so affected by the tone of her speech and the words that she expressed to me.
I have a lot of power that can come from my lips.
I have the power to encourage or discourage.
I have the power to lift up or tear down.
I have the power to speak life or speak death.
I have the power to heal or harm.
I’m not perfect, but I never want to be rude. I don’t ever want to hurt someone’s feelings, either. I don’t want anyone to feel what I felt this weekend after walking away from a conversation with me.
I am responsible not just for my words, but how they are perceived.
They matter to others and they matter to God.
I was hurt, because this person calls themselves a Christian.
But, what if I wasn’t a Christian? What if I was needing the encouragement…the life…the hope…the healing of Christ through her words in that moment, but was met with the opposite? The hurt wouldn’t just be physical, it would also be spiritual.
There’s a lot of power inside my mouth.
I don’t want something I say to keep someone from seeing Christ.
Guard my tongue, Lord and keep it gentle…’cause even when I am “having a bad day”, my words must tell of the goodness of God.
Let it always produce the fruit of Your Spirit.
