It is said many times in the bible that God's words are like honey. Sweet to our soul and healing to the bones of our body. When I think about the impact the words of the bible have had on my life it makes me think of other words that I remember too. Words of my mother saying, "be careful" my dad saying "give it all you've got", the words of friends that tell me "to keep going" , the words of "I love you", and the words of songs that fill every inch of my brain. Why are words so important to our soul? How come a word someone says about us can affect us more than the actions?
Everyone has heard the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names never hurt", whoever thought of this saying must have never been called a slut let us be real…. My thoughts... they came from a man.... regardless, words hurt and words also heal. It has taken me a long time to realize that my love language is words of affirmation, the catch is that is also the first way to break me. Words have been so special to me for so long. I think that is one of the reasons I wanted to be a counselor. To constantly listen to the words of other's hearts and minds. How fascinating....
For me Jesus hears all my thoughts, concerns, and praises. He is like my journal and an open dialogue that I can have through prayer, song, or even through a friend. Some people do not have faith they can not seek out Jesus for their thoughts and their mind. They begin circulating negative feelings and emotions. In this case, something breaks. Sticks and stones are not breaking bones, it is our soul that is breaking and a soul is not easily repaired. As the sweetness of words fade and the sourness takes over we become changed. We can begin to see around us movements of being kind, bullying awareness, and pastors talking about speaking love. How can we start this in a daily life? Giving someone a compliment, listening (even when we may want to speak first), or even picking up the phone to call someone we do not speak to every day. In these ways we can spread love we can become someone's "diary"....
Last week one of my clients told me, "You are like my diary that talks back!" I absolutely loved this. It spoke to me and filled me with so much, that I circulated all of these ideas onto this page. With the hope that I can impact my words of "honey "with just one person. Therapists are like diaries. We hold onto secretes of the past, present, and hopes for the future. We are not the authors of the client we are simply the keepsake for them. We exchange not our words but the very words of their soul. So the next time you think about the words you are speaking think about the source. Think about why this person is speaking to you, what they are seeking, and what impact they have on you and you on them. Speak words of honey and become their diary. A place of comfort and solstice... and you never know maybe you'll create a honey farm.