What Words Are You Speaking To Your Child Today?
‘Awọn ọmọ wọnyi ko wulo’ – Yoruba
‘These children are useless’ – English
‘Ọmọ yii jẹ apọju.’ – Yoruba
‘This child is too dull’- English
Have you ever heard words like this spoken by a parent or caregiver to a child? Perhaps you have or may have heard stories about mothers who speak harsh words to their children.
I have often times stumbled on such words being spewed out of the lips of a parent to their on several occasions.
I even met a mother once, who categorically stated that not all children will make it in life. That statement was in reference to her friend’s son who was having serious academic challenges and had been sent out of several high schools in the country.
Her words left me wondering if a child’s academics was all that was required for a child to make it in life.
The Words Our Children Hear Leaves An Imprint in Their Hearts
I also recall several years ago, when my elder brother was left in a coma after a car accident, my father was called and he quickly rushed to the hospital.
He told us much later, how on seeing my brother, fear gripped his heart. But he immediately laid his hands on my brother’s head and declared out loud these words – ‘You cannot die’.
Do you know that words are powerful? Whether they are spoken, written or even imagined. There is something about speaking out your words. I personally believe that something happens in the unseen realm when positive or negative words are uttered.
Have you ever wondered why a person who constantly speaks fear, will always feel afraid about their today, tomorrow and even the future?
I am sure that you can also remember certain words you read from a book, or words that someone spoke to you that have helped shape you into the person that you are today.
The bible tells us this,
‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruits thereof’ Proverbs 18:21 KJV
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 18:21 NLT
Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
Proverbs 18:21 MSG
The question now is this – what words are your speaking to your child?
The job of parenting can be hard and overwhelming at times. Children will most times try your patience to its limits, but here is the key.
You can choose to become more intentional with the words you speak in your parenting journey. This is because you know that your words are seeds that will grow to either shape or break the next generation.
When this becomes your reality as a parent, then you will begin to ask yourself the right questions like,
What kind of child do I want to raise?
Am I raising a confident child?
Will this child give light to his generation?
Is my child an inspiration everywhere he goes?
And when you find your answers, this will guide you with the kind of words you speak to and over your children.
So can I ask you this today,
What words are you speaking over your child’s life?
Are your words killing or giving your child life?
And lest I forget, my brother is alive and well many years later.
I would love to end with this quote from one of Pastor Sam Adeyemi’s many sermons.
“What goes into a mind, comes out in a life” -Sam Adeyemi
In other words, the words you speak to your child today will eventually play out in his life tomorrow.
So, you can ask yourself these questions today.
Are you slowly killing your child’s dreams, hopes, self-esteem and future with your words?
Or will you rather speak light, life, faith, courage, determination and possibilities into your child’s life today?
