Oh how could I forget, I am so dumb. How could all you you ‘people’ out there not remind me. It’s No Name Calling Week. Come on you bunch of …. whoa whoa, its No Name Calling Week, I can’t do that.

This is a good thing, as bullying is a huge problem with our children and well, even with adults. Of course, we can help combat that by teaching our children to treat each other with respect.
We all know the old adage “Sticks and Stones will break my bones, but names will NEVER hurt me.”

(While we are talking about this playground sayings, I sort of liked “I’m rubber, your glue what you say bounces off me and sticks to you!”)

Anyway, back to stick and stones. Although there can be some truth to old saying, and that statement is still worth considering, in that the words of others do not form us unless we let them. However, that’s the problem, its is hard to turn those words into affirmation, and thus the modern adage is now “Sticks and Stones will break my bones but names call also hurt me” or something like that. Maybe its “..but names can destroy me”, or …”but names will break my heart” Yes, I think that’s the proper way to say it today “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will break my heart.”

⁸The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (Proverbs 18:8, King James Version)

However, look at this:

²⁴Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24, King James Version)

So, as you go about today, remember the power of the words that you use, and consider what I tell my children when their behavior is, well not what it should be. I always say, would you want to be treated that way?

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31 (New International Version, ©2010)