I love words. I love to read them and write them. They have a way of sticking with us, rooting down deep within our hearts – both the good words and the bad. And words are important to God. “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God” (John 1:1).
And yet, words are not always necessary for communication.
Without one word, we can communicate, both positively and negatively. In our silence, we can communicate (rightly or wrongly), that we don’t care. By our lack of encouragement, we can douse someone else’s passion.
And yet, our silent actions can communicate far more than our words ever could.
Sitting with a friend on the bench of mourning, simply holding her hand, knowing that words would not make it better.
Continuing to be faithful to your spouse, holding only her in your heart.
A bouquet of flowers sent on an important day.
The quiet smile of a parent who cannot express how proud they are.
Bearing the shame of humiliation and the cross.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth. ~ Isaiah 53
Jesus, the Word Himself, showed us his love, his meekness, his humility, in taking up not just the mantle of humanity but the burden of the cross. He suffered and did not complain. Instead he endured.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. ~ 1 Peter 2:21-24
Words are important. But what are we communicating in the silence of our actions? Will we follow in His footsteps?
Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash
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