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“Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said” (Ecclesiastes 10:20, NLT).
When I was in high school, name-calling was all the rage. My mom had warned me about bullies, but I thought times had changed. That was until I, too, became a victim.
Whispers seemed to protrude through the walls I walked by, echoing secrets of those who had tread the same path before me. Most days, I hung my head low, shuffling from class to class as quickly as I could. Though their accusations were cruel, some made me stop and think.
I was used to being called “skinny,” a “twig,” a dog that needed “meat on my bones”. I was somehow mocked and yet praised for my intelligence; someone always wanted something from me, mainly help getting an ‘A’ on next week’s assignment. Maybe those were compliments. To me, they felt like slaps across the face.
But one day, the words went a bit further. I was on my way to pick up fruit for a fundraiser I had participated in when I stumbled upon a new weighted word: Someone had written “Jew” across my order form.
While I was initially stunned, a smile erupted within my Spirit. My faith was evident, even in the face of judgment. If I was going to be bullied for something, let it be my unwavering faith in Jesus. I understood the power of standing firm in who I am, regardless of the whispers around me.
The weight of our words is powerful. They can hurt and they can build up. It’s a mystery that cursing and blessing can come from the same tongue (James 3:10). But these words, as hurtful as they once were, shaped my understanding of identity, faith, and the power of our speech, three truths when it comes to knowing the weight of our words
