The Power of Words

I have spent a lot of time this week still thinking on the subject of friendship. Mostly about that defination from the encyclopedia that says "to prevent mutual harm" I have found myself more often then not this past week pondering that very concept. To prevent mutual harm....of course the last thing I would ever want to do is harm someone, especially someone I call friend...yet I know that more times then not my mouth sometimes gets ahead of my mind, and the wrong thing gets said, OR, I say nothing at all. The Bible tells us that the tongue is the hardest thing to tame. I often wonder why it is so easy to say something hurtful to those people that mean the most to me, my friends. Not that I go around saying mean awful things, but I think we have all been in a position where we say something, and know immediately after it came out of our mouths that we shouldn't have said it. I don't know, is it that we get so comfortable in our relationships that we think we can just let words fly? Or is it that little part inside each of us that wants to see just how far we can push that other person. Maybe it is simply we had a bad day and they rubbed us the wrong way. I am certainly glad that the people that have choosen to be in my life are people that are forgiving...because goodness knows I need that grace. I also know that sometimes not saying anything at all is just as dangerous as saying the wrong thing. Sometimes a friend may need encouragement from me and I don't give it....that is almost as bad if not worse then saying the wrong thing. I have spent a lot of time over the last year or so of my life really watching my words. I have been blessed with a few new friends that have really taught me how import the positive, encouraging words are. Words are such a powerful thing. The can make you feel loved, important, needed. They can always make you feel beat down, self conscience, and horrible. I just pray that God always helps me choose my words wisely, that I always lift up those that are important to me, and then when I fail He points it out to me so I know to ask for forgiveness and grace. But most of all I ask that God makes me real. That I am not saying things just to gain favor, or stay on someone's good side. But that I speak with truth, love and honesty. Let me not use my words to manipulate, or deceive....