Tuesday, January 13, 2009

In Other Words--Measure Words

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"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
~Mother Theresa~


The echoes of all words are endless. Many of us hear the words that have been spoken to us for years to come. We replay the tapes. We feel in our souls the elation or the pain that those words brought. The rippling effect of what is said can last a very long time.

So we must ask ourselves, when the people around us think about us in years to come will they hear harsh words or will they hear kindness? I'm sure we all prefer that our words are remembered as kind. That means we must take the time to measure them today before they are even said. We must sift out the harsh and speak the kindness. Even correction may be spoken with kindness and not derision.

Measure.....Sift.....Speak. Measure.....Sift.....Speak. Measure.....Sift.....Speak.
If I repeat it enough, maybe it will become second nature.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14


Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18




Our hostess this week is Susan at Forever His. Join us there to read more words of kindness.

10 comments:

Susan said...

Thanks for joining us today!

Oh, that is my prayer too, let every word and meditation be ACCEPTABLE to God!!

Blessings♥

Joyfull said...

Loved your post. The verse is also one of my favorites. I also loved the measure..sift! Thanks for sharing today.

Laurie Ann said...

Measure...sift...speak...wonderful motto! I will definitely be thinking on this! Thanks so much for sharing. I loved your post!

Velda said...

This is a beautiful entry, going to copy that saying onto my blog so I can remember it.

For the record, there are many words from you that echo in my often. They are all good, supportive and encouraging.

lori said...

Ohhhhhhh....I love it...measure, sift, speak....for a wannabe baker that is PERFECT!! I'm passing this little nugget on to my kiddos!

peace,
lori

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen said...

Well said.
. . . and we never know precisely which of our words will echo forever in someone else's heart and mind. The power of our words is SO great. We do have a tremendous responsibility to use them with wisdom.
Happy IOW!
~esthermay @The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

michelle said...

measure... sift.. speak... I need to remember this. :-)

Tami said...

Great reminder and easy mantra to remember. I can already see my wheels spinning in mixed company.

Kristin said...

What a valuable reminder...thanks.

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL.

MSS . . . a great acronym for your approach. I shall post it in my office & lets others wonder what it means (or tell a few) . . .

Thank you.