Words

This morning on my way to work, I heard Matthew McConaughey doing a Reliant Energy commercial.  I have to admit, I do like hearing his voice!  He said, “Say what you will about Texans, but we sure can turn a phrase”.  It’s true.  Nobody speaks like a Texan.  Come to think of it, nobody thinks like a Texan.  We are a tad bit proud of our heritage, and rightfully so.  I've spent a good bit of time trying to explain the meaning behind some of the things I say to my husband.  I'm not sure if he will ever catch on, but he does try.  I've even caught him saying "y'all" a few times!  Being married to a Yankee, I’ve learned that we say things around here that no one else in our great country says, nor can they understand the meaning of some things we say without a translator. 

Things like:

Fixin’ to, as in “I’m fixin to do the laundry”.

I used to could, as in “I can’t run as fast as I used to could”.

Dadgummit, Dangit, Dadblameit: these are euphemisms that allow you to express your feelings without actually swearing.

Tank – what northerners call a pond.

Pallet – a pile of blankets and quilts placed on the floor for company to sleep on when all the beds are taken.

Yankee/DamnYankee – any person born north of the Red River.

We also say things like this when we want to be really descriptive:

She has the personality of a box of rocks.

Ugly as homemade sin.

Having a hissy fit.

Dumber than dirt.

This got me to thinking about words.  Words are powerful things.  It’s been said that “the pen is mightier than the sword”.  When my kids were growing up and were fussing at each other, I used to remind them to watch what they say to each other.  You can always come back later and apologize, but you can never truly take back the ugly things you say to someone.  It will always be in the back of their mind. 

How many times have we said things to people when we are angry or hurt that we wish we could take back?  Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”.   We can destroy someone with a string of ugly things hurled at them in anger, but we can also heal someone with words said with love. 

No matter how we say it, no matter what euphemisms are used or what kind of accent we have, our words have power.

Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer”. 

To honor God with my life is truly my heart’s desire.  Today, I will concentrate on the words that come out of my mouth, and pray that they will, indeed, be acceptable to Him.