Saturday, February 25, 2012

Words

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."


Except...that's not really true, is it?


Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21


Words are powerful. They can bring hurt or healing. They can encourage or destroy. They can change the course of a life through inspiration or demoralization. 


At times, words are so powerful that they are physically experienced and not just merely heard.


I experienced a word recently. I was in my safe place, church, at a Cub Scout meeting. I was waiting to speak with a friend. An acquaintance of mine was sharing a story with her about her son's visit to the pediatrician. Apparently, there had been some early worries about his development. The latest visit confirmed that all is fine. She concluded her story with, "Don't tell me my kid is going to be a retard!"


I was stunned. The air was sucked from my lungs in a startled gasp as I recoiled from the word. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't hear what else was said because of the over-powering "wooshing" sound in my ears and the thumping of my own heart. I wanted to escape, to be anywhere but there, but my feet were planted to the spot. For several seconds that felt like hours, I stood stock still and breathless, trying to regain my senses. When my faculties returned, I pivoted sharply and walked away to find, hold, and inhale my boy.



I never said a word to the acquaintance.


I've spent some of each day since, trying to sort out my feelings and make some sense of the incident.


When I posted about it in my group for mothers of kids with Down syndrome, they were ready to lynch the woman.


When I shared the experience with my friends without a personal connection (other than Eon) to intellectual disability, they were quick to defend her.


Neither response felt right to me. 


She's a funny gal, the kind that will build a story to the inevitable punch line. She enjoys the lime light and being the life of the party. In short, she's a lot like me. While I never would've used the term "retard" as a noun, even before Eon, I have, at various times, stuck my foot in my mouth and crossed a line for a laugh. 


At the same time, I don't think writing off her actions as "uneducated" is the way to go, either. Uneducated implies that she really had no idea the word is offensive, and yet, something tells me that if a young adult with Down syndrome had been standing there, she would've spoken differently.


I've been told that she certainly didn't intend to cause pain. Apparently, I'm not supposed to be offended if the intent was benign. But the crux of it is that it really doesn't matter if I was offended, at all. This journey that we're on is not about me. This is Simeon's trail. I am a participant and a spectator, but I am not the star. What really matters is the answer to this question: How is my son going to feel when he encounters that word at around the age of twelve or so? Will her intent matter then?


I don't want to have to educate Christians in hopes that they will no longer use hateful words.


I simply want us to no longer be hateful.


But it starts with me.


As I was ruminating on my hurt, I remembered a potent example of an instance where I marginalized people for a laugh. The story is here. Funny, right? Except, I shared that story, complete with punch line, in a group that included a 17-year-old girl whose siblings are all half, who lives in a mobile home, and who has most probably been called that very thing. 


Funny thing about words. Once they're spoken, you can't ever take them back, no matter how horrified you are that you chose to speak them in that precise moment.


If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. James 1:26 


I am too often guilty of worthless religion.


He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. Proverbs 17:27-28 


Too often, I open my mouth and prove myself the fool.


...for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45b


I need a heart change.


Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18


Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24


This. I want this...when people experience my words, I want to them to feel sweetness and find healing. I want them to bask in love and acceptance. I want my religion to mean something. I want to speak life.


Will you join me? Will you determine to stop using reckless words that pierce like a sword? Will you put aside your own need to be right, your need to be funny, your need to make it all about you and let this be your prayer, too, as I'm making it mine?


Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

8 comments:

  1. You are so wise! So very wise! I stopped using "trailer trash" when I realized how incredibly hurtful it was.
    Carey~ Stefi's mom

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  2. This word hurts and stings...and takes away my ability to speak or breathe...I would like to think that soon i will be able to stop the person that is using this language and just say stop...and then turn around and walk away...not giving them a chance to respond...because there is nothing anyone can say to make my hurt feeling go away...or make me think it was being used for nice...smiles

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  3. We went to church with a man who was known for putting his foot in his mouth. He was very fond of my children, especially Noah who has Down syndrome. One Sunday during potluck, I heard him loudly use the word "retarded" in his conversation. At a quiet moment, I said to him, "You know, would you ever say anything hateful about Noah?"
    He said, "No, of course not."
    So I said, "When you use the word retard or retarded like it is something you despise, you are saying something hateful about Noah."
    He got it.

    Hope that helps.
    Blessings,
    Alyson

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  4. we lived in a mobile home for 8 years. I will never use that phrase. I have used the R word before, not meaning ill will at all! But now I have Grace in my life. Its ALL grace isnt it.....

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  5. Ug, what an awful experience. It would have taken everything in me not to slap her...Well, in my mind anyway....I tend to react the same way you did...Like the air is being sucked out of me and I am frozen not knowing what to say in response....I get tired of being the one who has to suck it up and let awful words like this not bother me...I get tired of being the one who has to be patient and understanding to some one elses ignorance.

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  6. Awesome post, so needed this today!

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  7. I had a very similar experience last Friday, during girls' night. Of all the particular neighbors too, this was the one who though her daughter was going to have Ds too (she didn't, but she spent most of her pregnancy on the message boards). *woosh* and the air is gone. And I'm not mentioning at all the FAMILY who said it over the holidays. I just... I think I'm tilting at windmills sometimes.

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  8. Thank you for this post! What a wonderful reminder for me to ask God to help me to speak only gracious words that bring healing rather than speaking reckless words that pierce the hearts of those around me.

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