Cussing is an easy thing to do. In 2020, we have had experienced some tough times. A pandemic which has caused people to lose their jobs, their lives and limit their social engagements. A year like this can lead to plenty of cussing.
Is cussing a bad habit learned from others?
When I was a little girl I was very careful about what words I used. I remember telling others not to use bad words. However, as I got older I lost that edge.
I had some family members who had a bad habit of cussing. My mother was temperamental, when she got angry she would not use uplifting words to express her emotions. She also had a very harsh tone of voice. So it was a double whammy when she got angry! lol
In my novel, The Shattered Vase, I allowed my main character, Suzie Whatley, to endure this character weakness.
My ex could swear like a sailor.
I was married for twelve years. Although it wasn’t a daily occurence, my ex did have a tendency to use words which were not proper English. He too had difficulty with anger explosions. I am not blaming him for my problem. However, if you are surrounded by people who cuss, it is easier to pick up the bad habit.
I soon became comfortable with cussing.
There have been times when I feel as if I have been treated unfairly. When I repeat this story to others I can cuss. There are other times when someone has treated me badly. I want to call them a name when telling the story to a friend. Sometimes things break or don’t work correctly. That can lead most people to cussing. The other day a man pulled out in front of me and a string of unsavory words erupted from my mouth.
There was one time in particular when I was tempted to cuss. I blogged about this experience on my other blog. https://singleparentssurvivalguide.com/that-surgeon/
I find that when I feel victimized, I make the choice to use profanity.
What emotion leads to cussing?
I believe cussing may be linked to anger, bitterness, helplessness and victimization.
One of my favorite passages in Scripture attacks this problem head on. It is found in Ephesians 4.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
What is the effect of cussing?
Is it building someone else up?
Not usually. Sometimes we do it for effect. We think if we put a cuss word into our conversation that it gives the story more emphasis. However, I have heard that profanity is the result of a weak mind trying to make a strong point. So, using profanity to make your point may reveal more about your mind than about the emphasis you were trying to relay.
In the scriptural passage above the Bible says we should only use words to build others up. But what if they are tearing you apart with words? What if they are constantly criticizing you?
In that instance, I would suggest that you walk away from the situation. There were times when Jesus did that. It is not necessary to put up with verbal abuse from others.
When someone cusses me out, I end the relationship.
I think profanity is a fruit of anger, bitterness and wrath.
In Ephesians 4:30 the core of unwholesome talk is revealed and it says we are to get rid of it. . 1 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
There are many ways to get rid of every form of malice. In my following posts I will give some suggestions on this.
Do you sometimes use unsavory words? When do you use them? What things could you do differently to choose words which uplift others?
