As I look back over my life, the most impactful memories are not those of joy and fun in the sun, but of being bullied, shamed, and verbally abused. I have heard it said that “Sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you” and have come to understand that this is one of the biggest lies that I was ever told, and at times those words stole my reason to live. I smiled and pretended that it didn’t hurt, but it did more harm than many in my world will ever know. I pray over what is written in *Ephesians 4:29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.* To those that I have spoken mean words too, please forgive me. For those that spoke the words causing my pain and probably don’t even remember what you said, but for me it is something that I will never forget, I forgive you. There is one thing that I think hurts more than the words that were spoken that offended me, and that is the silence of those whom I believed would be there for me in my time of need and weren’t. To those who say that they are my friends and proved it, those that genuinely care about my family and I, you are cherished and valued. To those that are willing to stand by our side to support us and not ridicule and abandon us in our times of need, we love and appreciate you more than you will ever know. My prayer for you all my beloved is that the Lord bless you and may you feel His presence in all that you do.