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Good morning. Whenever I see a ladder I remember my late grandmother. I’ve no idea why, but she was against them and to this day I can't see a man up a ladder without hearing her voice shouting at him to get down before he falls.

Voices from the past are important to most of us. I recently tried to count the number of times during a day when how I do things is affected by some distant memory of advice, comment or criticism from long gone family, friends or colleagues.  There were too many to count.   Not all of them were comfortable but on the whole I was actually touched by the people who had influenced my life in a positive way.

There are of course many people for whom voices from the past can actually be deeply painful and damaging.  For them much of what they do is affected by negative memories: a parent for whom nothing was ever good enough and whose critical voice undermines whatever they achieve; a partner who deceived them so that, lied to once they fear they'll be lied to again; sometimes even a chance remark from a stranger that undermines their self-confidence for the rest of their lives.

But the key point that struck me was how clear it is that the things we say to one another, good and bad, can have an effect that lasts long after we have forgotten saying them.  The book of Proverbs in the Bible says that rash talk can wound like a sword – but wise words can bring healing. And yet despite that, I suspect that every day many of us are saying things to one another and never giving a thought to what impact our words may have now and in the future.

Lord God, Remind us today to be careful with the words we use and help us to find opportunities to offer words of encouragement, love and support. Amen