Words–Where Did They Go and What Did They Do?

“They had words.” “He was too wordy.” “All words and no actions.” “The word is…” 

Will you sit down with me this morning for a cup of coffee and a discussion of the word words? I’ve been thinking a lot about that subject lately. You can’t weigh words, they have no weight. You can’t see them or touch them (unless they are written.) But, they are the most powerful things in the world. They start wars, break hearts, hand out sentences, light up the day, give meaning to life. And, we often use them flippantly without realizing what we are doing.

Of course, there’s more to words than just saying them. There’s the tone of voice in which they are spoken, the context, the hidden meaning, nuances. It would be nice if, before we speak, we think of how they will sound to the person or persons spoken to, how far they will go. Words can break hearts and heal wounds. They can persuade, begin or end hostilities. They can put a spring in the step or cause a sunny day to suddenly grow dark. 

Words are a writer’s stock-in-trade. They are what we use to get an idea from our devious and suspicious minds into your inquiring brain. They can make a book a best seller or a dismal flop. Books are words bound together for a purpose.

This morning, as I head into the day, I hope I remember that words can be an arsenal or a comfort blanket. I hope I have the wisdom to use them carefully and speak them in a tone befitting the situation. Because, once they are spoken, they’re out there. I never know exactly where they will go or what they will do. They should be handled with care.