Oh My Word!

     My third son started kindergarten this year.  He brings home new songs and sayings, and even teaches me a little bit of French.  Yesterday, I was listening to him belt out, "We've got the whole world in our hands."  I said, "No, sweetie.  That is a song about God.  We shouldn't change the words.  It goes, 'He's got the whole world in his hands'."
     Ben then tells me that this is a song they sing in class and he is not allowed to sing it wrong.  He tells me that the way he sings it is the way his class is supposed to sing it.  After some questions, I learned that they are singing it as if they were holding a globe.  The next line is "We've got North and South America in our hands......"  I suppose I felt a little better to know why they were singing this song with the new words, but it still made me wonder if anyone else has noticed how things just don't seem as sacred as they should be. 
     There are words that have taken on new meanings that I tend to disagree with.  Of course, my last name is not Webster, so no one is asking me how a definition should read, but when I thought about this I realized how very casual society has become with our language.
     Below are some of the words that interest me:

1  Joy-  Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  In my personal opinion, all other uplifting emotions are called "warm fuzzies" or "happiness".  These two things are temporary, joy is not.  It may fade at times and bubble over at others, but it is always present.  The one rule is that, just like any other fruit of the Spirit, you have to choose it.
     I experienced joy during the biggest trial of my life.  My precious fifth child was born with PPHN, or Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of a Newborn.  He spent 3 1/2 weeks in the NICU and we almost lost him several times.  The miracle that occurred during that time did not start with his healing.  The first miracle was the joy we were able to have in the midst of our sorrow.  We were never "happy" that he was sick, of course.  We were able to smile with our other four children and enjoy them, though.  We were able to avoid being consumed with our sorrow. 
Listed below are some definitions from Websters:
Noun
 The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.[Websters]
That which causes joy or happiness.[Websters]
The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; mirth; merriment; festivity.[Websters].

Below are some definitions of joy from the Bible:
Isaiah 58:14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 60:15 "Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations.
Isaiah 61:7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
James 1:2-3  ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
    
     The next word is the word "Awesome".  I have to admit, that as a child of the 80s, I certainly use this one without even realizing I've done it.  (ie, "That movie was awesome", "This fruit salad is awesome", or "It would be awesome if I could have a girls' night out!")  This one is simple, though.  When I think of the word "Awe",  I think of a jaw dropping, amazing, fear of God, kind of respect and reverence.  Really, can fruit salad do that?  Who deserves our "awe" but a holy, sovereign, all powerful, all mighty, loving God? 

Exodus 15:11 (New International Version) 11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

     Another word is "create".  I love that one of the definitions Webster uses is completely correct on this one.  The definition I love is this one:  To bring into being; to form out of nothing; to cause to exist.[Websters] 
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

      Who but God can create?  If we see a beautiful painting, we recognize that the artist used paint, canvas, maybe a paintbrush, and a God-given talent to make it.  When we look in Genesis 1 the verses 3, 6, 9,11, 14, 20 and 24 each start with two simple words, "God said".  All he did was speak and it happened!  Only God can create.  Wow!

     Another word is "love".   I don't even know where to begin on this one!  It seems that every form of this word is twisted these days.  First and foremost, the love of God.  I have heard so many people proclaim their faith and love of God, yet their actions don't display it.  First of all, how can you love someone you don't know?  I say this to myself as well as others.  I could definitely devote more of my schedule to quiet time and prayer.  I love the Lord and I know him....but I want to love Him and know him even better.  It saddens me to see people struggling through their life unnecessarily when God is just waiting for them to give a moment's glance toward him.  He loves us and he waits for us. 
     Another form of love is marital love.  It seems to be seen something that comes with conditions these days.  There are reasons that we take vows, and reasons that the good and tough times are mentioned in these vows.  Marriage is hard, and it takes work and devotion!  It is not a fairytale, it is not a soap opera, it is not filled with romance everyday and flowers and candy.  There will definitely be days like that, but many days are routine, and some are just plain tough.  What lies beneath is a strong foundation of loyalty, admiration, respect and patience. 
     Love of a child is another one that seems to be tainted these days.  I see these words "spoiled" and "diva" plastered all over the place.  Is this supposed to be good?  I only feel honest in typing all of this out if I admit that my first and second sons' Christmas gifts filled our living room.  Believe me, I understand the vulnerability of falling into the trap of wanting my kids to have anything their hearts desire.  The problem is that in order for them to feel loved, they want discipline, boundaries, protection.  Love does not look like a new bike.  It looks like a parent wanting to raise an amazing adult.  It looks like a parent expecting great things from their little blessing and when that is not what they see, they love them enough to put consequences in place.  It also means that when the teacher calls to tell mom that little Johnny is misbehaving, mom and dad don't attack the teacher.  It means that I see the spiritual gifts of my kiddo and work to grow those.  It means that clothes, toys, star baseball players and straight A's may be a part of life, but are not the way the kiddo feels loved.
     The love of a friend--what a special thing!   Friends that pray for you, refresh you, encourage you, know you--the real you, relate to you, and support you.  I had a friend show me a special kind of love recently.  I was struggling with an incident that hurt my feelings.  My friend did not add fuel to the fire by saying that I was right and the person who hurt me was so wrong and I was justified in my bitterness.  No, instead she pointed out  that I should look at it from a different angle.  That maybe I should consider things in a new light.  You see?  Love isn't always fluffy and sweet.  Sometimes it is gently confrontational and lovingly honest.  Sometimes, the best way to love someone is to be concerned with their heart and point out an area that could use some growth.  That friend wanted me to grow, she risked offending me in hopes of seeing me grow spiritually.  She didn't take the easy road.  She loved me.....and I was thankful.
     1 Corinthians 13:4-8  4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.
     As I close this out, I have to assure anyone reading this that I am not and will not be the word police.  I'm not that uptight.  You may even catch me saying that I "created" a scrapbook for my kids or that a song is ''awesome".  I still slip up, I just hear it immediately and realize that maybe I can take that moment to reflect on the fact that I worship a perfect, amazing, awesome and holy God.