Sweet words

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24

Our words make a difference.  They can  heal and comfort or hurt and cut to the heart.  We are most creative AND most destructive when we speak.  We choose which we will do...build up, encourage, love and comfort or hurt, destroy, and wound.  Words are powerful!

Last week, as we dealt with the death of a dear family member, I watched her mother, wounded and hurting, using words of love, healing, and encouragement.  With each one she met her words were sweet, healing, like a warm blanket to the hearer.  They each lingered to hear more.  I was amazed as I watched.  People flocked to her like hungry birds to bread scattered on the ground. 

She, the one hurting from the loss of her only daughter, was encouraging and comforting others!  Sweet and healing only begin to describe what the kindness of the lips can do in the lives of others.  We all need to know we are loved, to know it from those we care about and when the words of another are encouraging, healing, and loving it changes everything. It changes us.

I've been thinking about this since we left our family.  What I saw in my sister is a woman who collects friends like some collect coins.  The funeral home had to set up extra chairs for all those who came....and they came because they loved my sister and her family.  

Sweet words, kind words, encouraging words....I wonder what could change if we decided to only speak when those are the words we will use.

"Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift." Ephesians 4:29