“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

I love watching hummingbirds! They love sweetness, too, flower nectar and sugar water.

Our words are powerful! Words have the power to condemn or the power to encourage. They have the power to wound or the power to heal. Our words can shine the love of God wherever we go, with whomever we interact. Now that is an intimidating thought!

My words, your words, every person’s words have an effect on others. What will you choose to say? Will we harshly criticize or will we lovingly correct? Will we disparage someone or decide to celebrate their inner beauty and value? Will we refuse to accept someone who is different or recognize them as a beloved child of God?

When my children were young, I used to tell them that if you choose to be nice to people, they will be nice to you. I don’t think it really resonated with them until the day my daughter was at the DMV to get her driver’s license. The DMV clerk who yelled out, “Next”, had obviously had a bad day. The frown on her face and the eminating frustration was not inviting. My daughter slowly walked over, and we sat down. As she asked for her learner’s permit and studied it, I started a conversation, empathizing with the overloaded waiting area and the few workers. She began to relax as she told us about her day and a barrage of teenage driving tests. We all ended up laughing, even my daughter contributed a few stories of some of her friends’ driving tests.

Long story short (alright, not so short). My daughter returned from her test smiling, having passed the first time. She shared afterwards that she had done a required maneuver incorrectly and that three of her friends had been failed for the same thing, but the DMV worker we had been nice to, just told her to remember to do it correctly in the future. And then I heard those words that every parent loves to hear, “You were right, Mom! Being nice to people does make them want to be nice to you.”

This week let’s make a conscious choice to use pleasant words and spread some sweetness to others. Let’s shine God’s love to those we meet and gift them with kind words that give “sweetness to the soul and health to the bones”. Can you change someone’s day for the better? Choose to speak kind and encouraging words to the stressed-out cashier instead of impatiently tapping your foot. Choose to be gracious and forgiving to the neighbor who broke your favorite casserole dish. Choose to engage your family and offer encouragement and empathy after a difficult day. Let’s shine!

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we all work to spread some sweetness with our words.

Blessings and light, that as your words gift others, you also receive the gift of sweetness!