Ohh just kidding

"Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking." - Proverbs 26:18-19
Has anyone ever said something mean to you or about you but then proceeded to claim they were "just kidding?" I hear it all the time.  Unfortunately, I am all to guilty of it too.  I just do not understand how or when it became okay to say hurtful things with "just kidding" at the end and all of the sudden its not so bad? Or not as rude?  Or it isn't supposed to hurt as bad? But news flash it does. I am so confused as to why someone can say something hurtful and expect it to be excused just because you were "just kidding".  Because usually your not. Your not just kidding.  Those words, those feelings, yeah they came from somewhere and chances are that is really what you thought.  That's why you said it!  Y'all just because you stick "just kidding" or "jk" at the end of a sentence does not excuse the hurtful words preceding it.  
We need to be more conscious of our words.  By not saying the first thing that pops into our brains but filtering the things we say to encourage and build each other up. "Sticks and stones may break your bones but words may never hurt you." Could possibly pass as the BIGGEST lie ever told.  It is so not true.  Words hurt.  Real real bad.  
"Words can build us up Words can break us down Start a fire in our heart or Put it out" - Hawk Nelson    These song lyrics could not be anymore true.  Words can build us up, they can make you feel so good about yourself. They also can break you down so far that you don't even want to get back up. We have to learn to control our words and not let things like "just kidding" be our excuse anymore.  Your words can make a huge impact on someone.  On someone's mood, on their day, on their week, or maybe even on their life.  All to often I think we say things without thinking, or say them without realizing that they may actually hurt the person we are saying them too.  Just because you say you are "just kidding" does not make those mean words hurt any less than any other mean words.  
"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body"   Proverbs 16:24
Our words have to power to be used for good yet so often they are used for evil.  But thankfully we each have the power to change that.  We have to be more careful about the things that come our of our mouths. We need to learn to control our tongue and not use "just kidding" as an excuse anymore because it does not excuse anything.