Powerful Words

Unfortunately, early in life, we learn words are powerful and can hurt quickly. We took my daughter to the playground last week. She was having a great time, running up and sliding down, wearing her grandfather out as he tried to keep up with her and her brother. Several other children were there, enjoying a semi-cool breeze in the evening, expending some more energy before bedtime. One little girl pushed mine out of the way at the top of the slide and said, "Big girls first." Of course, my little sassy one put her hands on her hips, leaned over, and said, "I am a big girl!" Her feelings were hurt when the other child denied such a fact. Come to find out, they were the same age, but we couldn't convince the one that my daughter was a "big girl," nor could we convince my child that no matter what someone else said, we knew she was. Something so simple, but something that must be learned.
Not too long back, I had been talking to another friend who likes to write. I admitted I was worried about a few of the contests I had entered a story in, and that I wasn't sure what the outcome would be. She shook her head and said, "But you're resilient." Resilient isn't necessarily a word I had ever considered as wanting to be. But the more I think about it, the more I appreciate what she was saying. No matter what happens in these contests or what the judges say (and the first results I got back weren't what I was hoping), I'm not going to quit writing because of it. I'm still going to pursue getting more stories out of my head and into your hands. I'm still going to blog and push and stretch and reach. This is all something I am now. Something I have had to learn along the way, because if I had had such things said about my writing in high school, I might never had made it this far.
Words are powerful. They can hurt. But they can also build up. Thanks to lots of good friends and family who have showered me with words to build me up, and thanks to the God who showed me that I am stronger than I think, the hurtful words don't puncture as deep anymore. I'm resilient.
How are you using your words to build others up? Have you ever had the problem of something using theirs to try and tear you down?