Today, I’d like to encourage you to speak with gracious words! As we focus on the above verse from Proverbs 16:21, it explains that the wise in heart are called discerning and their use of gracious, forgiving, and beautiful words allow grace to “promote instruction.” Next, it reads, “Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.” Almost always, the fool in Proverbs reflects someone in their foolish words. But in contrast, “The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent and their lips promote instruction.” And I just love this last part: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”   

As children, we internalize the words of our parents, parental figures, or the people who raise us. Therefore, it is important to say the right things to all children, as they will look up to you as an adult. When parents tell a daughter she is beautiful, or when they tell a son he is loved, or when aunts, uncles, and grandparents use affirming words, it creates positive feelings that remain in children’s precious hearts long after the moment of impact.

Friend, let’s affirm others with gracious words! Love remains if the child is affirmed. If you neglect to say good things or you say negative things, that child will have contempt and a lot of emotional work ahead of them as an adult to overcome these pains and insecurities. Certain compliments lift up more than others. Understanding how to be courteous, compassionate, and uplifting with your words, especially for the people closest to you, is an important part of loving them. By communicating with gracious words, we reflect the heart of Jesus to love others as we would want to be loved!