Behind the smile

Head held up high, she walks down the street

she’s wearing a smile, she confident and at peace it seems.

The smile, a mask, she uses to cover her face.

Coverage from the impact of words,

hiding the damage it's caused

beneath the surface of her radiant skin.

Every word ever delivered to the doors of her heart,

lurks around the pathway to her soul,

threatening to take residence and make it a home

Yet, she goes on with life,

attempting to maintain a facade of normality,

but the words, they are part of her daily reality

Words, statements, sentences such as...

“When are you getting married, time is passing by, you are getting old”

“When will you buy a place, you need to start learning how to build a home”

“You are getting too thin; your future husband will have nothing on you to hold”

“You are never available; you should be more open with your time”

“You will never amount to anything, this job is not for your kind”

The representation of these words,

constantly finding ways to invade the foundations her very soul,

each invasion attempt leaves rugged lines in its wake,

announcing it's presence, leaving fragmented remnants within her very essence

Yet, she carries on, attempting to maintain a facade of normality,

but words, unfortunately, they are part of her daily reality

Still, in defiance she walks on by, head held up ever so high

but, she bleeds, she bleeds freely,

from the bruises that resides within,

perfectly hidden behind the smile,

which is all we ever get to see

©Remi Banjo, April 2008

It’s a sad truth that most of us don’t realise the impact of:

· the words we speak,
· the words that tumbles out of our hearts
· free falling from our lips

The words we speak can bring forth life or death. Have you ever said a word or made a statement and almost instantly wish you could take it back? Wish you could rewind, like you a tape? Wish you could erase it like you would do with an eraser? Or wish you could delete it, like you would with the delete button on your PC?

The power and ramifications of the words we speak travel much further and burrow a lot deeper than ever expect them to. Proverbs 18:21 explains that “the tongue can bring forth death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences”. The words you speak, what does it bring – life or death?

For our words to bring forth life or death, it is dependent on the contents of our hearts, as explained in Proverbs 4:23, it reads “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” So it’s safe to say that whatever we speak reflects the contents and state of our hearts, life or death.

How do we make sure that the words we speak bring forth life; that they bless and not curse, they heal and harm, they encourage and not undermine? Well, proverbs 13:3 explains that “he who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” This means that we should basically be very watchful of the words that come out of our mouths. We should think before we speak.

We can also learn from King David, he hid God's words within the walls of our hearts so that we will not sin against God. Psalm 119:11 reads “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

That said, here is me encouraging us to handle like fragile glass, the words that reside within our subconsciousness, transport them with care as they journey through our tongue, and deliver them with caution as they tumble from your lips.

Have a great day speaking life to everyone you come across and into situations that you might be facing; not forgetting to make God famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***pictures by photobucket