by Netagene Kirkpatrick<\/p>\n
eu’phe-mism<\/strong>, n. (Gr.: well + to speak). The substitution of an inoffensive or mild expression for one that may offend or be unpleasant; e.g: “passing away” for “dying”.\u00a0 ~\u00a0Webster’s Dictionary, 1961<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nSome people say “God bless you”,
\nOr sometimes, “Bless your heart!”
\nI know they mean it all in love,
\nGod’s care to someone to impart.\nBut sometimes it’s a euphemism
\nFor, “I’m glad I’m not in\u00a0your<\/em>\u00a0place!”
\nI detect a tone of arrogance:
\n“Bless your heart. What an ugly face!”\nOr “That poor man just can’t help it.
\nBless his heart, His wife is a jerk”
\n“God bless you. What a pity!
\nI’m surprised you’ve made it work!”\n“It’s terrible that you’re not better!
\nBless your heart. You still can’t see!”
\nThanks but no thanks! No fawning!
\nI’m fine. I don’t want sympathy!\n“God bless you. How’re you doing?
\nTsk, tsk, it’s so awfully bad!”
\nBless my heart. Don’t worry about it.
\nI<\/em>\u00a0can handle it. Why are\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0sad?\nSometimes people say “God Almighty!”
\n“Lordy! Lordy!” or “Oh my Lord!”
\nI know that’s not saying bad things,
\nBut isn’t that idle words?\nThere’s all kinds of substitutions
\nThat we use when we speak in vain,
\nBut one of the very worst expressions is
\nWhen we just yell out God’s Name.\nFive seconds can seem like five minutes,
\nSilence might mean something’s wrong.
\nSo they blurt out whatever comes to them,
\nWithout thinking whether it belongs.\nSo you’ve won a big prize, or heard bad news,
\nIt’s a sin to use “Gosh darn” or “What the hey”.
\nGood words become bywords when used lightly.
\nRemember, you’ll face God on Judgment Day!\nEven “How are you?” is empty
\nWhen it’s used as many folks do.
\nTry to answer and they’re off to another,
\nJabbering to somebody new.\nWhen I sneeze, don’t tell me “Gesundheit”.
\nThat’s just a superstitious tale –
\nThat Satan would enter your body,
\nOr grab your spirit and take you to Hell.\nIt’s good to ask for God’s blessings
\nOn friends especially in need.
\nBut be sure when we say “God bless you”.
\nThat our words are followed by deeds.\nRemember that we are God’s workers,
\nAnd through us, friends are warmed and filled,
\nBut don’t say it if we don’t follow through
\nBy obedience to God’s will.\nGod bless me? He does daily!
\nFrom Him, I hope ne’er to depart.
\nBut those phrases are thrown out so lightly.
\nBe sure you mean it when you say,
\n“Bless your heart!”\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by Netagene Kirkpatrick eu’phe-mism, n. (Gr.: well + to speak). The substitution of an inoffensive or mild expression for one that may offend or be unpleasant; e.g: “passing away” for “dying”.\u00a0 ~\u00a0Webster’s Dictionary, 1961 Some people say “God bless you”, Or sometimes, “Bless your heart!” I know they mean it all in love, God’s care…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[492,1558],"class_list":["post-56472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-profanity","tag-speech"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42930,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-answers-help-me-think-more-deeply-about-subjects\/","url_meta":{"origin":56472,"position":0},"title":"Your answers help me think more deeply about subjects","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've been reading and listening to your audio lessons and responses to questions on your website and I thank God for your accuracy in teaching the gospel. May He bless you. I'm only 16 years old and I understand the responsibilities that we, followers of Christ, currently have and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32379,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-proper-to-bless-gods-high-and-holy-name\/","url_meta":{"origin":56472,"position":1},"title":"Is it proper to bless God’s high and holy name?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had used the phrase \"We bless your high and holy name.\" I realize the word bless means basically to make happy. Is it scriptural to pray that phrase?\u00a0 I figure the elders would have corrected me if it wasn't, but all men are imperfect.\u00a0 Just wanted to know\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33062,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-saw-someone-quote-psalms-374-to-justify-sexual-foreplay-what-does-the-passage-really-say\/","url_meta":{"origin":56472,"position":2},"title":"I saw someone quote Psalms 37:4 to justify sexual foreplay. What does the passage really say?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read about\u00a0foreplay\u00a0and agree, but I was on a singles site and saw: \"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart\" (Psalms 37:4). So what does this mean? Thanks and God bless you! Answer: \"Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51155,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-the-song-leader-to-express-appreciation-for-the-preacher-and-his-lesson\/","url_meta":{"origin":56472,"position":3},"title":"Is it wrong for the song leader to express appreciation for the preacher and his lesson?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello brother Jeffrey, I hope you are doing well. I recently heard a brother ask this question and wanted to reach out to you with it. If hand clapping in worship is wrong, what is the difference between that and a song leader appreciating the preacher after his sermon?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43993,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-and-may-god-continue-to-bless-you-for-the-words-and-wisdom-you-share\/","url_meta":{"origin":56472,"position":4},"title":"Thank you and may God continue to bless you for the words and wisdom you share","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Thank you and may God continue to bless you for the words and wisdom you share. Answer: Thank you for your kind encouragement.","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49695,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thanks-for-having-such-a-wonderful-website\/","url_meta":{"origin":56472,"position":5},"title":"Thanks for having such a wonderful website","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Thanks for having such a wonderful website. You bless many lives. May God bless you richly. 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