In the old days, a trustworthy person could be described as one whose ‘word was their bond’. In modern times, ‘our bond’ has been greatly depreciated. It has been replaced with credit scores and background checks. I wonder what our society, our communities, and our families would look like if we valued the power of spoken words more than credit scores. What if we spent our words carefully each day, speaking those things that are only needful and helpful for others? What sort of dividends could we amass as a society and personally if we only spent our words as currency of love and truth?

“Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” Don Miguel Ruiz

DEFINITION: Impeccable: faultless; flawless; irreproachable

That’s heady stuff; to be impeccable with my word. That means I would have to think before I speak. I would not veil what I mean with empty fluff; I would not seek to harm or reduce another with my words. How often am I impeccable with my words? I hate to admit, but not very often. Maybe, on a very good day, once or twice in the course of my waking hours could I be accused of speaking with impeccability.

Jesus too, the WORD incarnate, taught this about communication: “Say just a simple ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.” Matthew 5:37 TLB

What indeed would happen if I had it in my mind to only do my very best whenever I opened my mouth to speak. What effect would that have on those with whom I communicate; with those who overhear my communications? I can only imagine…