Sticks and Stones 

By Denise Chaffin

 Do you remember these words from your childhood?  “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words may never hurt me.”  I dutifully memorized and repeated them whenever someone spoke unkind words to me.  But the truth is, words can and do hurt!  They can cut like a knife and hurt you with a pain that is felt both physically and emotionally.

 Recently in the news there have been several reports of children who were harassed verbally over and over to the point that they took physical retribution against their attackers, some with deadly effects.  In reality, that little ditty from childhood, meant to help us deal with life, doesn’t always work.  Words can lift us up or tear us down. They can build up our confidence or rip it away, shred by shred.

 “My soul is among the lions:  and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.” (Psalm 57:4) 

But don’t stop there!  The next verse is so important!

 “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens let thy glory be above the earth.” (Psalm 57:5)

 This verse really caught my attention.  Even in the midst of a verbal attack from those who would discredit him, he was able to remember that God will be glorified!  God is in control, even when those around us are out of control. 

 A poem I was required to memorize in High School English often comes back to me at times like this.  Rudyard Kipling wrote in If, “ .  .  .  if you can keep your head when those about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.” 

 There is much more to the poem, but these words show the true measure of character. We demonstrate strong strength of character when we can maintain control of our emotions and words when others are in chaos and want to blame us for their poor choices and bad judgments. 

 Just over in the next Psalm David continues these same thoughts and begs God: 

 “Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth:  break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.” (Psalm 58:6)

 He remembers who is his strength and refuge.  When he is attacked, he did not return in kind, but sought the help and protection of God.

 A few verses later, he reminds us that vengeance is best left to God, as well:

 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.  So that a man shall say, “Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.”  (Ps. 58:10-11) 

           When we leave vengeance to God we also leave our minds and hearts free of bitterness and wrath and we are able to say with David: 

 “But I will sing of thy power yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning:  for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.  Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing:  for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.”  (Ps. 59:16-17)