Whoever said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” must not have experienced childhood.
Sentences slung at our souls wound deeply.
Some of mine…
“You’re so ugly.”
“No one likes you.”
I picture you, hand over my heart (our hearts!), touching the places where those syllables still sting.
And a passage from John 8 comes to mind…
A woman accused was brought to you. The leaders were ready to stone her. But you “stooped down and wrote in the dust” with your finger.
You said whoever had never sinned should cast the first stone.
And they all went away.
You’ve left it a mystery what you wrote in the dust.
But whatever it was, I know it was truth.
And now, here, we stand as women accused.
Perhaps not of adultery but of something.
Maybe deserved, maybe not.
In the dust of our hearts, I picture you writing truth that covers those words…
Loved
Accepted
Chosen
MINE
I am crying now, as I imagine the woman accused did too, happy tears of freedom and grace.
Others may speak into our lives.
But you have the final say.
You cover the lies with your love.
Heal us and help us to believe.
Amen.
* When I planned this series, I didn’t know about Beth Moore’s new book, So Long, Insecurity, You’ve Been A Bad Friend to Us. Everything she does is excellent and I highly recommend it as well as her blog!
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TODAY’S QUESTION: Has anyone ever said something hurtful to you? What does God say?
This week each comment gives you an entry for a sterling silver I Can Do All Things Through Christ bracelet!