Have you ever noticed how rudeness seems to be so common these days? We see this rudeness when we read comments on social media accounts. We see it also from influencers and content creators. We even see it from celebrities and leaders today.
While rudeness may have already existed in the past, it seems to be even more rampant today. Children could be so used to it that parents could be surprised at how the very young could suddenly learn to speak so rudely. They learn it from their peers, hear it from the streets or even catch it from their own families without their knowing.
The more unfortunate thing, however, is how rudeness seems to be more and more accepted as a manner of speaking. Sometimes it is even seen as a sign of a person’s authenticity and therefore, could even be applauded!
What happens when rudeness becomes a part of our ordinary lives as though it’s the normal way to speak to one another?
The Loss of Respect
Loss of respect could very well be the result of carelessness in our speech. If we can’t even show our respect to another person through our words, how much more could we show it through our deeds?
Words are often easy to say. And yet, if what is easy can’t even be done with good intentions, how do we go about accomplishing the more difficult tasks?
Words have power. They influence the way we think and act. It should be the very beginning of our efforts to work for peace as we encourage one another.
But if these words should now influence us to think without respect for each other, would we find it any easier to be patient and forgiving of one another?
On Health and Healing
The Bible has various thoughts about the healing power of words. In the following quotes, we find how good and encouraging words can affect even our health:
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
-Proverbs 16:24 (NRSVCE)
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:4 (NRSVCE)
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who choose one shall eat its fruit.”
-Proverbs 18:21 (NABRE)
On Relationships
Words are very important when it comes to our relationships. They are the very tools we use each day to communicate with each other. They can build us and encourage us, but they can also pierce our hearts and destroy the bonds that hold us together.
“With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.”
-Proverbs 11:9 (NRSVCE)
“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29 (NRSVCE)
Final Thoughts
We can excuse ourselves with the thought that our words do not necessarily reflect our hearts. We can also say that we don’t let them affect our actions.
But words are habits, too. And from these habits, we build the very foundation of our lives.
What habits are you forming today for your soul and for your relationships? Is it too hard to start with speaking kind and gentle words to other people?
Let us be careful with everything that we allow to influence our souls. If we think of good things and speak good words, it is more probable that we would also act with kind deeds and avoid quarrels with one another.
Rather than living in an age of rudeness, let the young ones today grow in a world of respect, mutual understanding and love.
“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” – Blaise Pascal
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:43-45 (NABRE)
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion. She also writes about relationships and the Catholic faith at Single Catholic Writer.
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