Words on A Trolley, Words of Emotions

This week, while we were out touring, we hopped on a trolley to take in the sights. The driver was about halfway through his route, when he stopped, cut off the trolley and turned around to us and said, "Boy, I have had a bad day since my first trip out this morning." He wiped the tears from his face and eyes and continued, "During the tour, I said something about Sandy Hook Elementary and the tragedy. A little girl was on here with her family and started crying uncontrollably. She was in the school during the shooting. I had no idea!" This man felt terrible, that he unknowingly said something to bring back memories on this precious family. He felt that he had ruined their vacation. However, he had no idea we had also been to Sandy Hook. We did not have on our Billy Graham Rapid Response Team shirts on during our tour. 

Words and emotions can play havoc on lives. We can hurt someone in an instant with a harsh word. We can also speak words of encouragement and love in an instant. It is only natural for reactions to the spoken word to be felt deep in our souls and hearts. Those words can linger for days, weeks and even years, whether they are helping us or hurting us. 

Words effect some people in different ways. We should be considerate of those who have the soft, tender heart. Others may speak up boldly, "It doesn't matter to me what anyone says!"  What I say to them, it should matter to you (especially if you are a Christian!). Remember that words can be rude or they can be complementary. The devil will try to tear you down, but Jesus will lift you up.

Ephesians 4:29 " Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Matt 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

When we come in contact with people who are hurting from one of the many pains of life, we first should listen to them. Let them share, it is a way of processing the pain and the beginning of healing. We may not understand, or even relate to their pain, but we can listen. 

At the beginning of the day, the driver of the trolley had no idea how just a few words would affect someone's life. In turn, it also changed his life that day. It also made the family, and his own day, take a turn from a fun day to a day of healing.Then, we boarded. He again changed lives when he turned to share his day. We changed from the 'tourist on the trolley' to people who had been there and also experienced Sandy Hook. We just listened to him, watched him wipe the tears and sadly turn back to finish his day. Life goes on....

Have you ever spoken words you wish you could such back inside your mouth? Have you been unknowingly hurt by spoken words? Do we have a solution for healing the pain....whether we are the ones that spoke..or the ones that were spoken to?

Families and friends can be torn apart with words. Do we need to make amends? Why don't we begin that healing instead of letting time slip by, until it is too late? 

We were blessed to be a part of a brother/sister reconciliation after 15 years of not speaking. The Billy Graham media was there and this is not a reenactment, this was live and shows how God works. 

 

Please leave your comments, would love your opinions.

Blessings,
gs