Word Power

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal


How silly was it that in childhood we used to say "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?! We learn from a very young age that our words are powerful and although they may not manifest in physical wounds, our words can cut to the heart of someone and leave permanent scars.

In the last 8 weeks, I've been involved in a graduate level rhetoric class.  Rhetoric is the study of the art of using words.  My fellow learners and I have spent much time reading and discussing the theories of rhetoric - both ancient rhetors and modern day theories. So, for the last two months I have been pondering the impact of words and have been convicted by the fact that I don't discuss this topic enough with my children.

So, how can we bring this very important lesson before our children without constantly lecturing them about it?  Here are some ideas:

Let the Scripture Speak
I love hanging scripture verses in my kids' bedrooms.  I do it without comment, but with a lot of prayer.  It's amazing to watch them notice and then begin to talk about it.  My favorite is when they hear the verse in church or chapel and turn to me and wink.  The Bible is full of great encouragement to us about our words.  Here are some of my favorites:

Psalm 19:14:  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Proverbs 15:1:  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 21:23:  Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Ephesians 4:29:  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Colossians 4:6:  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

But there are a lot more.  What others do you like?  Leave them in the comments below or on our Facebook page!

Give them a visual image
Consider Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."  Why not go to the craft store, buy some apples and gold paint.  Have each child turn an apple to gold and put it in a silver bowl.  While they do so, talk about good words and how beautiful they can be.  Put your bowl of gold apples on display as a reminder of the encouragement from God's word.

I also loved this powerful image from Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw0fiTNxB3o
Pouring forth ugly words is just like squeezing the toothpaste out of the tube.  You can never get that toothpaste back into its container.  Once our words are out, we can't take them back - they have done their damage.  

Be a role model
Why is it OK for me to mutter mean things about the driver who has just cut me off in traffic? Because he can't hear me?  I find that I get frustrated with myself when my children overhear me saying hurtful words.  Be careful of what that can teach them, and apologize to them when you have done wrong.  It goes a long way in the lives of our children when we demonstrate asking for forgiveness.

Sticks and stones....they certainly can hurt.  But words can be destructive.  Let's find ways to encourage our children to speak life into the people they encounter today.

Humble Pie

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Humble pie is not something most people want to eat.  It usually means we've done someone wrong and face humiliation as we seek restoration.  Humility is a character quality that we like to avoid - it has a negative connotation.  However, humility is a godly characteristic; "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind" (I Peter 3:8).

Humility is a hard quality to come-by as it is very counter-cultural.  Our culture says to teach our kids to be proud of their accomplishments, to have a high self-esteem. Teaching them to be humble seems to be in direct opposition to building them up.  

However, I've recently learned that humility is a key element in handling times of deep suffering.  A recent article I read states:  "Humility is the way to wisdom..  Humility is the way to contentment in the midst of confusing suffering"  (Welch, 2012).  I Peter 5:6-7 says:  "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  Even Jesus approached the time of his death with true humility when he says "yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).  Although we never want to think of our kids encountering a time of significant grief and trial, the facts demonstrate that those times are inevitable.  Our time to teach our kids is so short and we should not overlook the importance of working on this character trait with them.  

Teach Them Who God Is
Micah 6:8  teaches us "to walk humbly with your God."  A reminder that God is God and we are not instills the godly humility that will carry one through many, many trials.  When we think of Job and the tremendous suffering he endured, we call to mind the last few chapters when God finally speaks.  What does he tell Job?  "Through gentle, yet relentless, fatherly questions, he was taught that God is God and our aim in suffering is not to get answers but to submit to his lordship" (Welch, 2012).  If we can have our children grasp who God really is, and give them a proper respect for his sovereignty, hopefully they will bring these things to mind when faced with trials.

Recognize the Power Source
This is one of my favorite definitions of humility:  "Humility is not denying the power you have but admitting

that the power comes through you and not from you" (Smith, 1984).  Our kids have been gifted in unique and special ways.  They may be great athletes, be really astute in math, or be musically talented.  True humility is not a denial of the gifts they've been given, but a recognition that these things are from the Lord.  A little girl I once knew had the most beautiful curls.  Even at the young age of 4 and 5, if you said to her, "I love your hair"  she would respond "God gave it to me."  I always loved her sweet heart - never realizing that her parents were instilling a humble spirit in her.  We are never successful in our own power - it comes directly from the Lord, and He should be the one to receive the praise.

Provide Opportunities for Them to Serve
The very nature of a servant is humility.  As Jesus taught his disciples, he told them over and over again to be servants, and also demonstrated the same in his actions.  "...But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).  Are there places where your children can serve and reach out to others in need?  

Teaching our children to be thankful and helping them learn to ask forgiveness are more ways that they may learn humility.  Let's take the bad taste from humble pie and give our children (and ourselves) the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of walking humbly with our God.


Smith, F. (January 1, 1984).  "Christian Humility."  Leadership Journal, Winter 1984.

Welch, E. (July 18, 2012).  "Suffering, Step One."

Be the 3 you were meant to be!

Faith Christian School went on Fall Break a few weeks ago. In the weeks leading up to the Fall Break, I had

multiple friends and non-FCS teachers ask me, “What are you going to do for Fall Break?” Saying that our Faith teachers would be attending a Professional Development event while the students were off of school was met with some sympathetic expressions. However, the pity was unnecessary. While it would have been nice to have 2 whole days off to do whatever I wanted to do, what I experienced was a refreshing and inspiring time of remembering why I am a teacher and the influence I have on the students I come in contact with.

The Professional Development event we took part in was at an off campus site with 120 satelink sites participating all over the globe. This format was a bit of a change for those of us who have been around a while. These two days used to include live speakers, breakout sessions, and vendor giveaways. But, “times they are a changing”. You know how hard it is to set aside memories of the good ole days, but my goal was to have a good attitude about the changes, and walk away a better teacher and administrator than I was before. I believe I met my goal. 

Since that event, I have thought back quite a bit on one particular speaker who spoke about 3 types of people: 1s, 2s, and 3s.

1s are people who don’t do the right thing even when someone is looking

2s are people who do the right things ONLY when people are looking, and

3s are people who do the right thing even when no one is looking.  

Throughout the course of the session, the speaker explained the characteristics of each—mostly as it applied to students, but also as it applied to teachers. Judging by the laughter, most of the people at the event could personally relate to the examples she was giving and could probably even picture that one student or teacher that fell into each category. We were challenged to be the best teachers we could be by being 3s at all times. We would all certainly expect surgeons to be 3s during every surgery, so why would the expectation of teachers be any less? It's not! Don’t you know that teachers save lives too!

Ultimately, this is not just a challenge for teachers, but for everyone.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Everything we do should be to the glory of God and that requires us to do the right thing even when no one is looking.

It’s not like we wake up each day and say, “You know what. I think I am going to be a 2 today.” Sometimes we just get lazy or overwhelmed or stressed or just plain tired of doing the right thing--especially in a world that tries to blur the lines between right and wrong. However, Galatians 6:9 reminds us,  “ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

I hope you are challenged as I was to never tire of doing good. No matter where you are or who is watching, be the 3 you were meant to be!