I love you. I hate you.

Come sit at our table. Go back to where you came from.

Words are powerful.

You look beautiful tonight. Look what the cat dragged in.

We all have the power of words. More power though, depending upon who speaks them.

“We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life . . . . “

Politicians often use lies – powerful words to those that believe them. Religious leaders use words of fear – other forms of power to rein in their flocks.

Give peace a chance. Let’s bomb them back to the Stone Age.

Words can be optimistic or terrifying. Soothing or painful. Soul warming or icy cold.

Sometimes, the most powerful words are those not spoken. I have defused many arguments with silence and a smile. Last weekend, my wife and I made a trip to Tucson. Because of my loathing for Interstate highways, I drove backroads. At one point, I steered our car down a muddy country road, surrounded by cotton fields. I knew we were not lost, but my wife disagreed. She didn’t say anything. She kept quiet and shot me ‘that look’. I understood. I turned left onto the first paved road, made our way to the Interstate, and arrived in Tucson on time.

Powerful words, indeed.