Positive words can be soothing water to the soul
- Kyle Snyder: Live on Purpose
- August 2, 2024
- 491
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
—Mahatma Gandhi
We all can think of a time we were down in the dumps about one thing or another, and someone lifted us out of it.
I just love the unexpected blast of hope an encouraging word provides to me. When Stacey and I were going to get married, I worried if I would be a good husband and provider and could give us what we needed to succeed. I pulled into a gas station and saw an old friend I didn’t see too often anymore, and he told me he was just in the mood to pray for someone. I told him my worries, and he laid his hand on me and prayed. I felt a huge burden lifted off me.
Our words have power to bring people down or to pick them up from a fall. The Bible has a great deal to say about our words. Jesus tells us it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out. I always think, ‘I can’t control what people say to me, but on the other hand, what comes out of my mouth is my responsibility.’ I walk into a store or gas station and hear a lot of four-letter words I couldn’t help hearing, but I don’t repeat those words.
James talks about the tongue and compares it to a forest fire. A little campfire unattended can be moved by the wind and burn millions of acres of forest. One careless word can ignite an out-of-control fire that turns people against us or pulls them down. We all know people who are mad at everything and can spew far and wide, burning whatever is in their wake. I think they want people to feel just as bad as they do.
When we see forest fires on the news, we see helicopters flying over wildfires and dumping water on the blaze. In the same way, encouraging words can be like water to our soul, like my friend who prayed for me just a week or two before I got married. It put me in a fantastic mood. The right word at the right time can set us on the mountain top.
We all should be willing to encourage others. Just one kind word has the power to make someone’s day.