When did everyone become so mean? When did it become acceptable to say whatever is on your mind with no filter and not one thought or consideration to the person you are saying it to?

 

There’s an old saying that words are like toothpaste and once out you cannot put them back in. Let’s face it, we all have ugly thoughts. So, what separates those who can hold their tongue and those who cannot?

 

Manners, decency, and upbringing?

Kindness, mercy, and calmness?

 

No, I believe the one thing that makes the difference between those who “spout and shout” and those hold their tongue is…empathy.

 

You are not meant to say everything that comes into your mind. My mama and daddy used to say, “if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.”

 

Empathy helps curb the poisonous tongue. Your words can wound and cut deeper than any knife.

 

Some of the “death” words I’ve overheard in my children’s lives.

.           You’re stupid

.           You’re fat

.           You’re a waste of space

.           You’re a piece of garbage

.           You’re annoying

.           Shut the ____ up

.           No one cares what you have to say

.           No one likes you

.           Go kill yourself

 

Yea…that last one…

What kind of children are we raising when one teen can say this to another and … “Mean it.”

This goes way beyond school yard bullying and rockets straight to abuse. This is boys and girls who are spewing this venom, and if this is what they feel empowered and entitled to say as teens can you imagine what they will feel empowered to say as adults.

 

I believe this generation can be the greatest generation to ever live.

 

If they survive themselves.

If they know they are loved.

If they stop competing for their 15 seconds of Face Book fame with fake friends and followers.

 

 

It’s time to take back our kids and our culture. Foul mouths and crudeness and rudeness may make you think you have won the battle, but you will lose the war. Not everyone can be King of the Mountain. It takes a village.

 

May we all speak life over our kids.

May we all reach out when they make mistakes and offer grace and mercy and forgiveness.

But may we also hold them accountable for their words…because words can kill.

 

Find your empathy.

 

We are all different, unique, quirky, flawed, magical, mysterious. We are all artists and poets and dreamers, inventors and scientists and theologians and misfits. We are a crazy hodgepodge of individuals who make up a collective world.

 

There are plenty of mean people in the world.

Dare to be different.

 

Be Nice.