STUFF YOU MAY NOT HAVE LEARNED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL: DOLPHINS DON’T AUTOMATICALLY BREATHE; THEY HAVE TO TELL THEMSELVES TO DO IT.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”? You’re probably thinking, Yeah, like 120 times! Well, has anyone told you this saying is a load of junk? It is! The saying should be, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can hurt me, too.” Actually, words can hurt us even more (emotionally and mentally) and for a longer period of time than any old stick or stone.
The words that come out of your mouth are very powerful. They can either build someone up or tear someone down. They can make someone’s day or ruin it. The Bible is very clear about the power of words. (Take a look at James, chapter 3.) By now you probably know how powerful your words are. But if you’re like most people, you still have a hard time controlling what comes out of your mouth.
The school environment tests your ability to control your words like no other place can. So what can you do to prevent what comes out of your mouth from causing damage?
Be positive. Be a person who strives to be encouraging to those around you. Have you ever been around someone who’s always negative and discouraging? How did it make you feel? It’s no fun! It’s contagious, like a bad flu. And pretty soon you find yourself being negative, too. Don’t be like that person. Look at the positive in every situation, and you’ll find that those around you will be more positive, too.
Don’t gossip. This might be a tough one for you. Especially when the girls are standing around before class, just chatting up a storm, and one of them says, “Like, ohmigosh, look at her ugly outfit. It’s like so 2001. Nasty!” Then another one chimes in with, “And look at her hair. It looks like a bird’s nest!” Gossip can be super-damaging. Even if some poor guy never finds out about the things that were said about him, he’s getting trashed all the same. So don’t jump on the gossip train. Actually, be the person who stops the gossip train from going down the tracks.
Keep it clean! Watch your mouth. Stay strong! Don’t use foul language. Be careful about the things you say. When all the guys are sitting around the lunch table telling dirty jokes, don’t laugh, don’t join in, or better yet, just walk away from the group. There’s nothing kind about a dirty mouth.
Your words can be powerful, both in a positive and negative way. As a Christian, one of the biggest ways to damage your reputation as a Christ-follower is to constantly talk in a negative, unkind way.