LET EVERYTHING YOU SAY BE GOOD AND HELPFUL

Yesterday, I took a much-needed break. First, we went to a Farmers Market and had a blast introducing my grandchildren to lots of different flowers, vegetables, and crafts. Next, we spent the day shopping for school clothes and finished the day by going out to eat. It was so much fun spending time with the children, and I loved seeing how they glowed when they were praised for some little thing.

Earlier this week, I read a short devotional about the power of words. Words are an incredible tool, and they can be used to cut someone to the core and tear them down, or they can be used to build someone up and fill their soul with joy.

I have to admit that I am guilty of “wanting” to cut someone to the core. I am sure all of us have been in situations where someone says a mean and hurtful comment, and you want to hurl an equally hurtful comment right back. Normally, I don’t say something hurtful back, not because I didn’t want to, but because nothing came to mind. I am one of those people who will think about the situation and think of what I should have said days later.

While out with the grandchildren, I saw them start to beam when praised for the smallest thing. A simple “that was great” or a “you did a good job” brought smiles of joy to their little faces. I started thinking that maybe my lack of ability to have a quick comeback had been a blessing in disguise.

One of my favorite scenes from the movie, “You’ve Got Mail,” is when Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is telling Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) that she wished she had the ability to come up with a “zinger.” Joe Fox tells her that if she ever got the ability, she would immediately regret the words as soon as they left her mouth. The words would be said in anger and meant to tear down instead of building up. Of course, later in the movie, she got her to wish, and Joe was right; she immediately regretted the words and felt awful.

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

I’ve been on the receiving end of those zingers before, and they felt terrible. But, I never took the time to think about the person saying them. I just assumed that they were filled with pride at their ability to tear some to shreds with their words, but what if they were immediately filled with regret?

Maybe, instead of my silence, I could have said, “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I think you are still a great person.”

What if our words were only used to encourage and make people feel special? I bet it would be a much better place. I guess it turns out our mothers knew what they were talking about when they said, “if you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all.”

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!