Words hurt. Words leave scars.
As a mom, I often worry that my children will be bullied. I know that the few short years I have been a mother, I have already witnessed my children bullied either verbally or physically by their peers. It breaks my heart. I can only imagine how they are perceiving the situation. Words hurt.
In an effort to stop the epidemic, TakePart has created an action that asks people to pledge to stop bullying. Childhood bullying can have a lifelong impact, leading to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even suicide. But we have the power to prevent it, if we take action.
Children are not the only ones who bully. Adults bully others also. Whether the bullying is physical, verbal, or by a group (secluding) effort… bullying sucks. Today however, I want to touch on the verbal abuse of bullying.
Once our words are out of our mouth… we can NOT get them back.
They are out there. They have already penetrated the heart of the person attacked. Those words form scars. They hurt. They form wounds. Often times friendships are marred or ruined. Gone. Lost. Over a few angry hurtful words. Bullying hurts. Words hurt.
I know as an adult, I still have scars from when friends and family members have used their words to hurt me. They might not have intentionally tried to bully me with their words. But words hurt.
I see my children’s eyes… their heart when their brother says a hurtful word towards or about them. They may brush it off like no big deal, but I can sense that their heart hurts. Words hurt.
I have witnessed how other people talk to their children, their spouse, their friends. It might not even involve me and my life. However, their words, their actions, impact how I view them. Their words now hurt my heart… for them. Words hurt.
I have had close friends use words to verbally attack me at my most sensitive spots. It is like a punch in the face. A kick to the knee. Hurt. Taken off guard. Friendship ruined. Over a few hurtful words. Words hurt.
I read somewhere that it takes SEVEN positive and uplifting compliments to undo the hurt of someone’s hurtful words. SEVEN!
Not only words can hurt… but words can heal. Speaking positive, uplifting, encouraging, motivating words can help heal a wounded soul. Words heal.
Speaking healing words takes a lot more work and effort. We have to consciously make the choice to speak uplifting, healing words to undo any hurtful words and bullying.
“The tongue is a thermometer; it gives us our spiritual temperature. It is also a thermostat; it regulates our spiritual temperature. Control of the tongue can mean everything.” Richard J. Foster
Take Action
By signing the pledge below, you can take action by showing that you support and are behind the anti-bullying movement. It all begins in the home.
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Words hurt. Words heal. What are you going to model and teach for your children?
*I have partnered with Take Part to put an end to bullying.
Such mixed feelings here. I was bullied form the 1st grade on, both verbally and physically. It was very bad through adolescence, and only subsided when I became the strongest, fastest kid in school. It sickens me.
I am so grateful for the life I have now. I have one of the most aesthetically pleasing, and symmetrical lives of anyone I know. I am blessed. This wonderful life, however, is largely due to the bullying I experienced as a child. This is such a dichotomy for me.
My child is grown now. The is scourge, yet it contributed a beautiful outcome. So confusing…
I agree. Because of the bullying I endured growing up as a child (and adult).. I learned from those experiences. I am stronger because of them. However, because of those words… I have scars that are STILL there many years later.
I was badly bullied throughout my entire school years – the emotional scars still remain. For a long time, I felt like I wasn’t good enough, felt stupid etc and it took years for me to realize that those people who said those things to me don’t matter, and they were wrong.
I feel so strongly about this issue, and I’m so glad you posted this. We really do need to take a stand against bullying, both between children and adults.
Words definitely hurt. Things have really progressed and gotten more intense since I was growing up.
“Taste your words before you spit them out” – that’s a good quote. Great topic.
The top photo is so shocking but exactly what happens. It’s so sad that some feel they need to treat others that way due to their own issues. Great campaign!
Bullying is so rampant in all age groups & it’s disgusting.