"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bring forth good things."( Matthew 12 :35)
Most of us would never consider physically harming anyone, yet the careless things we say can cause an injury that is much deeper and longer lasting than a physical injury. We read that," a brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city and contentions are like the bars of a castle." Proverbs 18: 19. And that's exactly how it's going to work out if we don't think before we speak. Wise words to observe. Just as we can cause pain and suffering through what we say, we can also bring joy, for" death and life are the power of the tongue."
Since saying kind words brings happiness to ourselves and others, we sometimes wonder why we don't do it more often. To speak kind thoughts we must treasure up good things in our hearts. This is a choice we make well in advance. My headmaster was leading assembly to the children where I taught. He had a few pretty daisies with him and one of the children was called up to the stage by him. He asked her to take the petals from the daisies and spread them all over the stage. That was done well and easily. His next instruction was to gather all the petals and place them back on the flower. T
For a few seconds the child tried to gather up the petals, the child stopped and looked looked at the headmaster with confusion. That which she thought an easy task, was totally impossible! The headmaster used this analogy, showing that once the words were spoken, that was it, damage done. That is a lesson all of us should keep close in our thoughts.
Kind words have a way of returning to us, often with dividends. A powerful example is taught in a true event. A woman was helped and encouraged through a time of personal trial. This woman wrote to those who assisted her, a brief warm note of appreciation, expressing her love and gratitude. The harsh difficulties and disappointments of life can be softened by the giving and receiving of expressions of kindness and love. I know many who does this naturally, as if it is ingrained. Others have to work at it. The best place for us to begin is in our own homes, as my dearly, beloved mother so often reminded us that "charity starts at home."
The words of an unknown author illustrates this principle :
"I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind ;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind."
Sources : Excerpts from RS manual as quoted in Richard Evans ( The quality of kindness.) Own content, Pixabay.