Random Sweetness

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24

I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to make things better.  Sometimes loving Christians carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and run around with pure hearts trying to save the world.  I was speaking with someone not long ago and they were completely exasperated because of all the nasty stuff and unkind people in the world that didn’t act like they knew a thing about Jesus.  The whole conversation made my heart  heavy and I realized I'm surprised at the things some folks think they have the right to say to others.  All too often someone will spout off a rude remark and when called on it, they snip back with a comment about free speech and being entitled to their own opinion    I’ve been noticing a growing number of “ugly words” lately so as I sat with that on my heart, God pointed me to this verse from Proverbs.

If you are someone who likes to make things better, this is the verse for you!  I realized after reading it a few times, I had the process all wrong!  It really isn’t about “fixing” the words and actions of others!  I can be upset by it, I can pray about it, I can even take a stand about it…but the truth of the matter is this…I can’t do a darn thing to change it!  Change has to come from within…change has to be desired. If I’m busy trying to change someone else, I’m guaranteed only one thing…disappointment!  Besides, my Mom would remind me I should keep my nose in my own business anyway.  When I read this verse again this morning the solution to the problem became crystal clear…I have to change MY behavior.  I can’t change someone else’s snappy rude tongue…but I can be in charge of my own.  I can make sure my words are pleasant and sweet like honeycomb.  God didn’t put me in charge of the world, the state, the county or even the town…He put me in charge of just this one person and after some prayerful time with this verse, I know exactly where I need to begin.  What if we actually realized that every word we speak could be healing? What if each sentence we uttered were crafted with that intent?  That would be pretty remarkable don’t you think?

The simple power of this Proverb was illustrated through a story I read not long ago.  I had actually forgotten about the story until I was writing this post.  The story involved a mom of six kids under 9. She and her husband have a deep commitment to the Lord and promised to accept lovingly all the children He chose to bless them with.  They love their life but the rude remarks from others can sometimes be heartbreaking to this mom.  She was telling the story about a disastrous grocery store adventure with her babies that had 5 of the six kids crying by the check-out lane.  She was completely frazzled and on the edge of tears herself.  Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, a woman stopped next to her and she braced herself for an ugly comment or rude remark about her large family but instead the two sentences spoken at that perfect moment changed her day completely.  The woman looked directly at the frazzled mom and said, “Bless you for saying yes! These are lucky children because they will have the courage of their mother and lady; you’ve got a lot of that because I’m not even brave enough to bring one of mine shopping with me!”  They shared a laugh and the frazzled mom was lifted…two little  sentences is all it took!  One sweet word, one kind gesture completely absent of judgment or criticism or opinion worked magic.  I may not be able to change the world but I can work harder at speaking kindly to everyone I meet and that just might change a thing or two all on its own.

 A Seed To Plant:  Randomly speak three kind sentences this week!

Blessings on your day!