What’s in Your WORD Salad?

The tongue is the only tool that gets sharper with use.

Washington Irving

YOUR words have life.

Gentle words bring life and health, a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

Robert Fulghum is right; “All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten”.  I recall my kindergarten class with colorful chairs, toys and paints. There were brightly printed rules posted on the walls reinforcing what I was learning at home.  Share everything, put things back where I found it, clean up my mess, and more.  Kindergarten was the first place I remember learning words that either brought a smile or sadness to the faces of friends and teachers.  Shows like Sesame Street and Electric Company also taught me a lot of words related to kindness, gentleness, and manners.  The importance of Fulghum’s words have such impact that his lovely book of essays on life, hope, death, joy, sorrow, and pain include the “Kindergarten Essay”.  Click here for an excerpt  This delightful piece was read on the floor of the U.S. Senate.  Appropriate for a place where words have and continue to serve a significant part in our democracy, policies, and carries influence in the manner in how we handle one another as fellow Americans.

Every birthday year begins with a walk on the beach or quiet place to craft my credo for the next 365 days.  For years, I have set on my paper words that will define the attitude, function, and order of my steps.  The credo is my personal statement.  What I write in my journal, is a testament to what I am feeling and the life I intend to live for that year.  In my youth, I wrote full manifestos, but aged wisdom settled upon crisp one-liners.  Even during this exercise, I had to be clear to use the words that best expressed my sentiment for the moment.  Yet, the words collectively had to convey a message of inspiration and hope for each time I read it.  These annual credos are messages to my soul – to rouse forward movement and success. 

Shout-outs and Flowers

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

Rumi, Poet

I have been actively listening and chatting on the weekly podcast called Belligerent State of Mind on the Beatspodsandlife network. Weekly on Tuesday evenings I get to ear hustle into the world of music, sports, and news of the day as seen and interpreted through the eyes of four young men.  Dopest D.A.M.E., Lou Hall, Prez, and Recess (shout out little bro) opine on the topics that hit home for each of them; simultaneously providing much needed levity.  These soldiers have been offering up a word salad including their secret spice of belligerence.  I look forward to two segments of their conversation.  While there are golden nuggets throughout the show, the first segment is in the beginning when each man gives their shout-outs.  They shout out/update their week.  They shout-out every single optimistic and organic experience and observation.  They shout-out their wives, children, friends, and families. Generously, these young brothers articulate words that best describe their gratitude, thanks, heartache, frustrations, triumphs, and blessings.  The next is a segment called Nuff Respect Due.  Realizing the profound impact death of notables and loved ones was having on the hearts of America, these Belligerent Brothers decided to dedicate significant time on each show to express their respect for the artists, actors, athletes, musicians, and history making figures still alive and providing entertainment and education to the public. 

Shout out to D.A.M.E., Lou Hall, Prez, and Recess for their sensitivity to discern the importance of affirming the importance of sharing the good and excellence of themselves and others.  Each brother painstakingly finds just the right words to describe and highlight the milestones and achievements of their respective heroes in media, film, music, and sports.  What is equally impressive is that these brothers demonstrate positivity, encouragement, and admiration for those outside their circle.  These acts of selflessness smacks counter to the unflattering images and stories the mass media deliver to America of our young Black and Brown men.  I get to hear and see four men convey genuine brotherly love for each other.  They support one another through their marriages and singleness.  They prop each other up with funny anecdotes as well as a healthy dash of reality checks.  They invite listeners into their homes and hearts and allow us to get to know them individually and as a unit.  I celebrate these men as they continue to set the tone for this generation to express compassion and respect for others.  Nuff Respect to you, Recess – aka my little brother, aka Slick Rick Jr, the storyteller, aka My Heart.   Much love to you D.A.M.E., Lou Hall, and Prez for holding him down.

Words are free. It’s how you use them, that may cost you.

Wisdom quote

Policy and Social Justice

The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. 

James 3:5 (TLB)

Today, more than ever words are incredibly important in policy and social justice.  The words we say and what we choose not to say have equal importance.  In fact, our political climate determines the language and words we use.  The words in this salad can have profound relevance to society’s voting and opinions on political. civic, and societal issues.  During the last administration of 2016, the euphemism “alternative facts” evoked mixed emotions on both sides of Congress and America’s public.  But no other set of words had marked the top of the 2020 pandemic season than Black Lives Matter.  These three words aroused jumbled emotions throughout the nation and the world.  While there were millions around the world showing support and allegiance to these three words, there were millions of others who remained silent.  Their silence was and remains deafening.  What muffled the impact of these words were other groups who desired to jump on the bandwagon of support associated with BLM.  Never the less, with the help of mass communications, local network television and radio, and special thanks to social media choice words captured the attention of its followers.  Within moments, political viewpoints were addressed, discourse topics were brought to the table, and personalities like Stacey Abrams (my personal favorite word agent) were provided a platform to address the pressing issues of the day.  Advocates in support of our democracy and rights to vote leaned in on the powers of Instagram and Twitter.  Conversely, social media teaches all of us how critical it is to share your vital message using as little words as possible.  And by all means, make them count!

What does the Bible say about YOUR tongue and YOUR words?

God’s truth are His words.  God’s words are the truth. 

The Bible is the one document on this planet which allows those of the Christian faith to read what He says.  And by our faith we believe these words to be true. Whatever your affiliation or sect you follow, what you believe is documented.  There are approximately 12 major world religions and all of them have words associated to their belief systems.   I can and will speak to the only one set of words I know – The Bible.  Yet, despite all the differences of faiths in the world the Golden Rule remains the most common set of words – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  Not always the same words but certainly the same meaning.   These words address the conduct of my behavior toward others and also the conduct of behavior I can expect from them.  These words say a great deal about what is in my heart and potentially in the heart of Believers.  Sadly, messages and meaning frequently get dismissed or misinterpreted because of our poor choice of words. 

God’s words speak to His character.  Because I am a believer of Christ, my character must dictate my word usage.  Yes, there will be slip ups.  Yes, I cuss on the fly.  Yes, I have said the wrong things at the wrong time.  I am guilty of all those things and yet at the moment I shut my mouth, I believe God compels me to carefully speak words of apology, contrition, and repentance.  God hears those heartfelt words, and I am forgiven.  Thereafter, I head over to the person I offended to seek their forgiveness.  This does not happen instantly.  This behavior is nurtured daily by reading God’s words.  His words of direction, guidance, and love educate me in the ways to treat others before myself.  I am also that person in whom my friends can rely on to encourage and support them in their time of need.  My past use of words has introduced me to a new flock of people.  New acquaintances and relationships have flourished because of the reputation. Now I am at service to those who wish to hear (or read) what I have to say.

Even God is mindful of His power in the words He speaks.  He spoke earth, sun, moon, stars, oceans, animals, flowers, trees, and humans by the utterance of His words.  He literally spoke life into existing with His words.  As Believers, we too can embrace the impact of speaking life to deliver joy, peace, and guidance to others.  I am unable to speak “convertible Bentley” and it appear magically at my front door.  That is NOT how the power of my words work.  However, I am speaking to the confidence and manifestation of what it will take; including my health, work ethic, and budgeting practices for me to have this dream car one day. 

Words can change YOUR frown upside down. 

In 2013, the world put Pharrell Williams’ song, “Happy” on perpetual repeat for 35 weeks.  Fun fact: the title of the song is repeated 56 times throughout the entire song.  For almost nine months, people around the world were producing their own videos for the song and posting them on social media.  Personally, I played the song endlessly for almost an hour during a particularly trying time.  The music, rhythm and hearing the words pounding in my head urged me to smile and see the other side of the situation.

Words can change the world of the people in your life.  Your compassion, mercy, empathy, humor, and non-judgement can instantly inspire joy, comfort, and peace.  Your words can prevent a different course of action.  Your words can esteem a young girl or boy to pursue a dream.  Your words can restore a family relationship.  Your words can reinstate marriages.  Now more than ever, I am so conscious of the words I use because it is music to those hear it.  It can be the same for you.

Let’s consider some ways we can tame OUR tongue.

1. Choose your words.  Ask yourself the question, “is what I am going to say bring good or harm to the listener?  The answer will stop you in your tracks and potentially inform your choice for a different word.
2. Dedicate your heart, mind and soul to the practice.  I pray daily God guard my mouth.  I sacrifice my desires to be right in the verbal exchange and rather go after being understanding and aware.
3. Taste your words before you speak them.  I must be intentional about my choices of words to use.  Imagine yourself being on the other end of the words you speak.  How would you feel?
4. Surrender the right to complain.  I was a big “venter”.  In fact, I used to have a personal go-to venter and we would go at it for hours just complaining on a variety of topics.  After one of those sessions, I realized I felt no better than I did when I started.  Admittedly, I felt dirty and guilty.  I poured all my venting vinegar on her and she poured all her’s on me.  I get it; you will want to vent and that’s okay but put a cap on it.  And if you really want to feel better, get on your knees and pray.  Even if you and your buddies cannot take it, God can!
5. Ask for forgiveness.  Remember the Kindergarten Essay.  Say sorry quickly after you’ve said something hurtful or have done something inappropriate.  Commit to working on changing the way you speak so you don’t have to say, “I’m sorry” so often.
6. Practice speaking words that ENCOURAGE, COMFORT, EDIFY, AND INSPIRE.  Just like I used to hold a hairbrush in front of the mirror pretending to be Diana Ross, I also practice what I am going to say in anticipation of questions or conversations I will have with people.  Practice using words to soothe, console, or bring freedom from pain.  What words are in your daily vocabulary intended to cultivate, develop, and build up?  Check your verbal tank to ensure you have words at the ready to inspire and love.  You can do it!

…now what, Linda.