eWe who blog everyday are wordsmiths, but are we really? Choosing the right word to inspire, encourage, motivate or persuade takes some time. Take the word “WALK” for example.. We can trudge plaintively through a a garden with a sense of self pity. We can stroll eagerly through the same garden with a sense of joy. We can also trudge through the untillable land surrounding that garden. We can crawl desperately through a desert or hike a mountain path. We might even dawdle, creep or tiptoe when we don’t want to be seen. There are so many words that come off of one simple on like walk. Walking the plank certainly gives a different image than walking to your first date or down the aisle. You certainly wouldn’t sprint or bounce your way down death row. A Thesaurus can come in handy, but we still must be careful in choosing the right words for the right purpose.

As writers, poets, educators, novelists we have an obligation to be purveyors of those right words. We have the ability to change opinions, to lift people out of depression, make a difference in how the world thinks, teach, inspire and spur to action. We also have the ability to offend, anger or incite others with those words. It’s also our duty to research our opinions and be able to back them up with fact.

Communication is taking a hit right now. We’ve been isolated for a long time so that could explain it, but even prior to pandemic, we were falling away from talking face to face. Even the art of letter writing has died over the years. I used to write long letters, but since I can rarely read my own handwriting, I can’t expect others to do so. Instead I communicate like many others do today – through social media, email and texting.

The Bible has a lot to say about the words we use.

• Proverbs18:21          “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
  and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
• Matthew 12:37         “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
• Ephesians 4:29          “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
• James 1:26               “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

When you begin your posts each day, think about how your words will be accepted, not because of the comments or status you will achieve, but how you can help someone through a difficult time, by using words you carefully select.