Guest Bloggers

What if we speak truth with compassion? The power of words.

Guest Blogger Kshatriya Millick writes about the importance of words.

The lyrics to “Speak Life” by Toby Mac have really been weighing on my heart and mind. Hearing this song, live in concert, touched my soul and spirit in a way hearing it on the radio never did. It has caused me to think about how I speak to others. Do I use my words to lift others up or tear them down? Do I take little jabs to their characters and their lives, to feel like I am connected to something or to feel superior? Do I use jokes that are hurtful to be funny? Do I use my words to inspire others or to discourage them? These questions have caused me to evaluate how I use words in my life, and how those in my life use their words in their lives. I no longer wish to associate with people who use their words to judge, tear down, make a joke at others’ expense, ridicule, or who just don’t care what they say. I no longer want to be the person who uses her words to hurt others.

How hard is it really for me to spread hope and kindness with my words? How hard is it really for me to speak encouragement instead of ridicule? I don’t have to be witty or “on the mark” or funny to say a word that would lift someone up. Why shouldn’t I be proud of those in my life? Why shouldn’t I learn to look at them and say, “You are an amazing person” and mean it! How hard would it be to eliminate the witty banter of sarcasm and ridicule for truth and support? Why do I need to use sarcasm as a way to prove to the world I have a “special” connection to someone?

Words spoken even in jest can cause pain, doubt and mistrust, so why wouldn’t I watch my words? If I focus on lifting others up and “speak life” to them, wouldn’t I be the one who benefits from that action? I find when I can “speak life” and encouragement then I feel better about my day, I feel better about my relationships and I feel better about me.

Does this mean I won’t tell people the truth or bring light to something that I see as harmful, no of course not, truth is different from what I am saying, yet it is the way we express it.

Think about it for a minute, how do you deliver the truth to someone? Do you do it with disdain, are you a bully with your delivery, are you judgmental, or are you mean? Now think about how you respond to this kind of delivery in your life? There is no written rule that says, “Truth must be delivered with a hammer and with stones, until the person you are speaking to is a pile of brokenness and despair.” What if we speak truth with compassion? What if instead of rocks thrown we put our hand out and offer to help them walk? What if we truly treated others the way we desire to be treated and not the way we were trained to accept treatment?

My challenge for myself is to “speak life” into each person I come in contact with, in some way. A smile, a kind “Hello,” eye contact, truth with compassion, forgiveness, a word of encouragement for the hard work they put into a goal they are working towards. My challenge includes my family and friends; sometimes it is those close to us that we ridicule the most, when they should be the first people we lift up.

“Speak Life” by Toby Mac is a song that expresses the power of words. Words we say, words we hear, words we write, all the words we use. It spoke to me in such a way as to change my thinking about how I use my words. It changed how I hear words and it has changed me and my relationships. All my conversations now have a positive slant; I speak words of encouragement and hope before I speak words of bitterness and pain.

Kshatriya Millick lives in Northern California and is married “to a very loving sweet man who has taught me so much about love and acceptance.” Over the last couple of years she has transformed her life. “I have gone from existing to living a joyful life. At almost 300 pounds I started my life all over with all things new from a job to a new school to a new relationship. Now at 115.8 pounds less and with a new lease on life I see each day of my life as a blessing and I adore and welcome the challenges life has to offer.”

Ksha

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