Bad Words!

If you've been following my posts, you know that I've been called to task time and again by a certain grandchild for using bad words. Let me say that the words that are usually associated with being bad are not the same words that my grands associate with being bad. For instance: hate, stupid, idiot, shut up are all in the index of words that my grandchildren may not utter.

Frankly, when I use some of these words I don't necessarily mean them verbatim...all the time...(she said sheepishly). When I called the bad driver stupid the other day, I really did mean that she was using poor judgement by not pulling all the way into the parking lot. But immediately, I resorted to calling her stupid; thereby setting a poor example to my grandchild. I apologized and took the time to explain that it was actually her poor driving that was bad - not the lady - but that I should not have responded like I did.

In thinking about these bad words, the meaning behind them and the frequency with which we use them, I began to wonder what it would be like if more children were taught to remove these words, and the thoughts behind them, from their vocabulary.

Hate is, I think, the worst of all. It's the cause of so much sorrow and strife. Right now in my own life there is a situation that is making it very easy for me to actually hate. I do not like feeling this way and I must keep reminding myself over and over again of the words of Jesus in Matthew, chapter 5, verse 44.

"...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you;..."

So, no more bad words for this Granny!