Words have consequences

We have our Family Home Evenings on Sundays here at our house, because I have to work on Monday nights.  Today's lesson was about our words, and the effect they have on others.

We began with a glass vase.

We were mean to the vase.

We told it we didn't care about it's feelings.

We told it that it was fat, and ugly, and dirty.

We told it we didn't want to be it's friend.

We told it we never wanted to see it again.

We told it we hated it.

We watched the effects that our words had on the vase.

We broke it.

We said sorry to the vase.

It stayed broken.

We were really really sorry.

We even picked up the pieces.  

Maybe we could put it back together with how sorry we were.

It stayed broken.

Our words have such a powerful influence on others, good or bad,

and an apology doesn't always make things the way they were.

Some damage is not easily reversed.

The kids are reflecting on what they did to the vase.

Lesson #1:  Watch your words, they are powerful.

I told the kids a story about my own heart, which was broken and damaged

all because of somebody's cruel words.  I am still hurting.

I am the vase.

The kids put themselves in the position of the vase, rather than the position of the tormentors.  Even after an apology, words have left their mark; how do they recover?  We swept up the pieces, we tried to put them back together.  The kids theorized that Heavenly Father and Jesus could help in using glue to make things right.  But even if that were true, the vase still wouldn't be the same.  It still wouldn't be the way it was before it was broken.

Lesson #2:  The Miracle of Forgiveness, and the Atonement.

The Savior doesn't glue us back together when we're broken.

If we go to him with our hurts and ask for his help, he takes our broken pieces and exchanges them for a whole new vase. 

 Brand new.

If you're using your words as weapons, STOP IT.

If you've been hurt and are having trouble repairing the damage,

turn to the Savior.

I'm still working on that second part.  It's not an easy thing to do, to trust that he will heal the broken pieces of your heart, to have faith in that promise.  But I do have faith, and I know I'll get there.  

It was a great lesson.

Grace ended the evening by calling Ember a cruel name.  Baby steps.