Listening is More Powerful than Speech

I used to be such a wallflower. I seldom spoke my truth and I kept my deepest emotions a secret, sometimes even from myself. I thought that I was protecting myself from being hurt by not sharing my feelings, but all I did was create a prison that I no longer had the key for.

There is the time to speak the truth, to let others know what you’re feeling and what you’re thinking regardless of how they will interpret it. There is also a time for silence so that you can process those emotions and not say the first thing that pops into your head and do irreparable damage. I often think that I need more processing time than others but I don’t consider that a flaw. I’ve seen the damage that words spoken in haste can do and I don’t want to cause anybody that kind of pain because I myself have been on the receiving end of such words.

Everyone has a right to speak their truth, but if everyone is speaking, who is listening? There is a time to listen and it is every bit as valuable as the time to be heard. Don’t be in such a haste to share your thoughts that you don’t stop and consider how your choice of words will be received and the damage that they might do.

The Bible reflects Jesus being thoughtful before He spoke. I believe He chose His words very carefully so that they would give life and not destroy. The power of life and death is in the tongue and those who taste its fruit will eat thereof. Weigh your words carefully because they are powerful, and speak life every opportunity that you get.