Acid is . . .

. . . caustic, corrosive; it cuts; perhaps if we tasted it, we would find that it is bitter.

I looked up sarcasm in the thesaurus and I found the following words:

corrosiveness, causticness, cut, bitterness

The definition of SARCASM:

1. a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed at or against another individual (Webster)


2. a form of 'wit' that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule (dictionary.com)

Under the guise of humor and camaraderie - or just plain ignorance - we use various forms of sarcasm with our friends and nearly always get a laugh. And our kids are watching and listening. We often laugh when we hear a small child say some 'off-color' word because it's 'cute' coming out of their mouths. We ignore the horrible truth that more than likely they heard it first from an adults mouth. And our kids are watching and listening!

We're even sarcastic in our remarks and comments on Face Book because it's funny and it makes people laugh. And comment. And if we get lots of comments, we REALLY think it's funny. But in reality, all we're doing is mocking some-thing or some-one. I'm as guilty as the next person!

But then we send our kids off to school or out with friends, and we implore them to be polite, respectful, nice. "Behave, and mind your manners," we say as they walk out the door! And then we get angry when we learn that our child delivered some remark that was filled with 'acid' - delivered to cause pain or humility to someone else.

What I find most disturbing though, is that our kids often don't even understand how their remarks can be hurtful to others because they hear it so often from the adults in their lives (who laugh at one another), and they do what they've learned because they were watching and listening! Today, I am angry with myself for my own bad behavior, and for the sarcastic remarks that I use routinely not only to my friends, but also to family.


I looked up sarcasm in the concordance of my NIV Bible, and found scripture references to the mockery of Jesus during his trial. It makes me feel sick that my mocking words and remarks are no better than those used on my Saviour before he was killed.

I also found a blog post title The need for Christian Civility that was very interesting and worth some thought. Starting today, I'm on a mission to remove the 'acid' from my voice, to be civil or be still, and HOPE that my kids are still watching and listening!