Recently I gave a sermon on the power of words, and in it, I was struck by a phrase in a verse that is easy to miss. In Ephesians 4:29, we see Paul tell us not to use unwholesome talk, which is what gets focused on, but then he says that our words are to benefit others.

What we often forget is that the people who hear our words are not just the people we are talking to but also the others standing around in the moment.

If you think back to hearing your parents argue, something one of them said at the moment got lodged into your head and heart, and you started to carry that through life.

Something you heard a boss say to a co-worker (especially something negative) you heard that, and it gave you an impression of your boss and/or co-worker.

One thing I always tell dads is that the way they speak to their wife, they are teaching their daughters how boys and men should talk to them. They are showing their sons how to talk to women.

Too often, though, when we speak, our words are for our benefit, not the person we are talking to or those around us.

We are continually communicating with those around us, and we need to be aware of that.