Speak Life

Speak life

I’ve been hearing this song on the radio: Speak Life by TobyMac.

I grew up with the phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It was helpful in reigning in my words.

But it wasn’t, “Speak Life.”

I taught high school for a while and implored my students empathize with others. It may have aided them in understanding that words really can wound.

It wasn’t, “Speak Life.”

I have been married for nearly twelve years and have been a mother for almost nine. I have worked hard to craft my words to encourage and to give positive reinforcement.

Still I think it isn’t, “Speak Life.”

I’ve been listening, and my heart is encouraged.

I’ve scrolled through the FB pages of friends who are struggling. I’ve seen short quips and off-the-cuff jokes. Social media exacerbates the emotions because they are forever trapped in time. Those words are played out over, and over, and over, each time it is read.

Conversations do the same. I can replay words in my head and think about the tone and wonder about the emotion behind it – whether it is genuine, whether it was intended to be hurtful, whether the person was joking.

Speaking life takes more than restraint or empathy; it takes the desire to put life first. To want life for everyone you meet. To encourage with hope and yet, to unmask your own burdens to encourage others, is such a delicate balance.

To me, speaking life means to recognize the good – no matter what the circumstance. To look beyond the outer appearance, to use the eyes as windows to the soul, to think about each and every word you use. As the lyrics proclaim, seek out ways to “speak life to the deadest, darkest night.”

There is so much cruelty and hardship in this world. Speak life to your spouse. Speak life to your family. Speak life on social media. Speak life to your friends. Speak life to the passers-by on the street.

Speak Life.