Thought of the Day !!

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
                                                         1 John 3:18 (NIV)

On one hand, words are very strong.  The old saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is simply not true.  Words can be devastating.  And once said, they can never be taken out of the memory of the person that they are said to even if all is forgiven.  

On the other hand, however, words are weak when used to show love.  That is, unless they're backed with actions.  The letter of James tells us that faith without works is dead.  I say the same goes with love.  If one says these words to a spouse that he/she abuses in any way, then there is no love.  If a friend says I love you sister/brother, but isn't willing to stand by the other in a time of need, there is no love.  And the same is true in any case where love is spoken while not shown.  

Francis of Assisi, who lived around the 12th century and began the Franciscan order of monks, would teach his order to preach the Gospel and when necessary use words.  Francis knew that his monks could speak the Good News all they wanted, but if they didn't show it by the way they lived, they would never be effective.  In the same way, you can tell others that you love them, but it won't mean a thing if you don't show them.  

Let us continually show our love to each other and to God with our words, but also with our actions.

In the love of Christ,
greg