Are you a builder or a breaker? Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.” The coach that inspires his team to make a come-back in the last half of the game is a builder. The teacher who encourages their students that they can achieve their dreams is a builder. The parent who reminds their child how proud they are of them for trying their best is a builder. These are people who are using their words and the weight they carry to build others up. To inspire others. Are you a builder? Not sure just how much words can affect another person? Lets take a look at an experiment of cooked rice & water by Dr. Emoto. One jar was spoken nicely to (thanked), one jar was spoken meanly to (told it was an idiot), and the last jar was ignored. I will link the video here for you to check out. Basically after a month of this the rice that was spoken nicely to (thanked) it looked nearly the same and had begun to ferment leaving a pleasant aroma. The jar of rice that was told it was an idiot became black. The last jar that was ignored began to rot. Its clear that being told mean things did something bad to the rice. It turned black. This is what the words of a breaker do. They break down & mess up what has been built. Are you a breaker? Lets look at another verse on this topic. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” That verse literally says your words can change a situation. Your words really DO make a difference. God has really been sanding down the rough edges of my heart in this area and reminding me to guard my tongue. As a believer I am called to build others up. As a parent that job is all the more important. I have been a breaker. I have also been indifferent. Not anymore. Let's build something instead!! I want to be a builder. I want the weight of my words to be used to do something good. Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” I want my words to help Dawson heal the areas that he is struggling in. I want my words to encourage Shae, especially when she doubts herself. “Can't” is no longer in my vocabulary. I choose to say, “We are working hard on waiting patiently in line” rather than, “Dawson can't wait patiently in line”. Using the word “can't” is telling others and Dawson that he is absolutely unable to do something. How dare I put permanence on something that is temporary. Dawson is absolutely able to wait patiently in line. It may take practice, but he IS ABLE. When Shae informs me that she can't do a gymnastics move I quickly remind her that she CAN do it with practice. Again, she is putting permanence on a temporary situation. Maybe today isn't the day that she will do that gymnastics move, but with practice, she may be able to do it tomorrow. Let's choose building. Let's choose kindness. Let's get rid of can't. Because you CAN!! You CAN use your words to change a situation. You CAN use your words to build someone up. You CAN use your words to build and encourage yourself. Proverbs 12:18b says, “The tongue of the wise brings healing.” . Before you go, I need you to know that... You are amazing. You are loved. You are doing great things.