Words can hurt - often more than you realize.

I've lived a little over 4 decades. I've seen quite a bit in those years. One thing that keeps amazing me is the amount of time and effort that people put into tearing others down. Back biting, hurtful language, telling of half truths, sowing discord....it takes a lot of energy to do that. Imagine for a minute if people actually took that effort and turned it into something good. Instead of tearing people down, build them up. Instead of telling half truths, tell the whole truth. Instead of sowing discord, actually try to work together toward a common good.

And often - it is the "mature" people that are the cause of all this discord. Kids and teens - they don't know any better (no offense teens). But truthfully, they are just following the lead of their adult examples. Here are a couple tools to help you if you find yourself being negative, backbiting and hurtful:

1) If you have a problem with a man/woman - be an adult, go to them and talk about it. It may just be a simple misunderstanding that can be sorted out before the rumour mill gets wound up.

2) Make sure that you are not hurting someone just for the simple reason that someone has hurt you.

3) Sowing discord between friends is nothing more than evil. 

4) A half truth mingles truth and falsehood in order to deliberately deceive. (a half truth is a full lie)

5) Instead of being critical - ask how you can help, then follow through.

6) And if you are a man/woman of faith - remember what is said in Proverbs 6:16-19 -

 ¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests:
 ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,
 ¹⁸ a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,
 ¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

And lastly - never forget - "be kind today - you never know what another person is going through."

Have a great day friends !