Injury by a 1000 cuts

Happy Monday to our CFC Family!

Last week, after a full day of yard work, I noticed something strange. My left hand was covered in tiny cuts. They didn’t hurt, no blood, just faint surface scratches. Visual signs that something had obviously been scraping my hand over and over again.

Though I couldn’t quite figure out what happened, I went about my week, still wondering how those cuts got there.

Then Friday came. I was out cutting the grass when I felt it—a faint scratch, in the exact same spot on my hand. But this time, it was different. This time, the scratch came with pain. The tougher outer layer of skin, which had been repeatedly scratched the previous week, had now given way—exposing the more sensitive skin underneath. I immediately stopped and looked down at the lawn mower handle—and that’s when I saw it: a tiny sliver of metal, barely noticeable. It had been there the whole time, scraping away little by little. What I hadn’t noticed the week before had now become irritating—and painful.

It wasn’t one deep wound. It was the slow accumulation of countless small ones that finally made the damage impossible to ignore.

How many know that this is exactly how emotional pain often works in our lives? Most people who are dealing with emotional challenges are usually not injured from a single major event. They in fact are carrying the weight of a thousand small emotional cuts that have happened over an extended period of time.  Little comments, dismissive tones, subtle jabs, overlooked needs. Things that don’t seem like a big deal in the moment but little “cuts” none the less. Things others may not even realize they said or did. But over time, the injury become noticeable.

Even more sobering is the realization that some times we may be the ones holding the sharp edge. Truth is, how often do we speak without thinking? Using sarcasm, criticism, or negativity without realizing the person we’re talking to might already be carrying 999 other wounds? That one careless word, in our eyes may be just a minor comment, yet to the the one on the receiving end, it could be that “thousandth cut” that goes straight to their heart.

James 3:5; 9:10 warns us powerfully about this:

“The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts… With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness... Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”

Our words have weight. They can build up or tear down. And once spoken, they can’t be undone. Just as that tiny piece of metal on the mower left repeated marks on my hand, our repeated words, especially the negative ones, can leave lasting marks on the hearts of others, many times for years.

So here’s the challenge: Let’s be more careful with each other. Let’s pay attention to the sharp edges in our tone, our attitudes, and our words. Let’s assume that people around us may be dealing with more than we know—and speaking life instead of criticism might be the very thing they need at that moment. Encouragement instead of complaint. Grace instead of sarcasm.

And if you find yourself on the receiving end of those thousand cut…..always know, that God sees….and He hears your cry.  He is the ultimate healer of wounded hearts. Bring your pain to Him. Let Him gently show you where the injury started. Let Him restore what has been worn down and help you forgive and let go.

In a world full of sharp edges, may we be people of kindness, healing, and truth.

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  Proverbs 16:24

Have a blessed week and we’ll see you Sunday at the “Worship in the City” service !

 Pastor Dan

Christian Fellowship Church

417 Hanover Street

Steinbach, MB R5G 0G0

Church Office: 204-326-2228

http://christianfellowshipchurch.ca

daniel.krebs@steinbachcfc.org

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