Sticks and Stones

“…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)

by Alycia Morales

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1346340

“Your Mama is a pea picker! Pea picker! Pea picker!”

The kids at school loved to taunt me. They stuck “kick me” notes on my back. They called me all kinds of names. They picked on my mama.

Mama told me sticks and stones may break my bones, but words could never hurt me. But they did. Worse than when I broke my leg skiing in
fifth grade.

My leg healed, but my heart remained broken for many years.

Jesus understood what it felt like to be picked on. Many people He met didn’t like Him, said things about His Father and wanted to hurt Him.

Jesus understands how much we want to retaliate when someone says something mean about our mama. He understands how much we want to run away and hide when people call us mean names. He is there for us, especially when it feels like we don’t have any friends or someone to talk to.

When someone says something to hurt you, hold up your shield of faith – remember that God created you to be like Him – and trust that Jesus will protect your heart from their words.