The Power of Kind Words

What is the nicest thing someone has ever said to you?

At the swimming pool a lady in the change room was singing a beautiful worship song. My wife Ramona came around the corner and said, “Sing it sister!” The lady said, “I’m sorry. I’m embarrassed. I didn’t know anyone was here.” Ramona said, “You sing beautifully. You should sing more often.” The lady seemed unusually surprised by this.

“My mother sometimes told me not to sing. She didn’t like my voice.”

“I like it,” said Ramona, “and I’ve got good taste in music.”

Words are like salt. When sprinkled rightly, they add flavour, melt ice, and preserve life. When misused, they bring sickness. Our words can bring great joy or great sorrow. I asked some friends, “What is the nicest thing someone has ever said to you?” Here are some responses:

Someone told Ed Wallen, “You look a lot like Clark Gable.” “I was flattered,” said Ed, “until I considered the fact that Clark had been dead for fifty years.”

A nurse told Alfie White after she had flushed his ears: “You have the nicest ear canals I have ever seen.”

Some answers were short and sweet. “I love you.” “You’re funny.” “I forgive you.” “Thank you.” “I’m proud of you.” And the word, “Yes.”

Charlotte Riegel said, “The words ‘You are so beautiful, to me…’ sung to me by my sweetheart of 45 yrs.”

Someone told Shirley Neilson: “You radiate the love of God through your kindness, and faith!” Helena Swanson said, “A year after speaking at a ladies’ retreat, a lady told me that what I taught had changed her life!”

Ron Brownsberger said, “It’s more than twenty-five years ago. My daughter had been wearing the braces on her teeth for a couple of years. We were finished with the last visit and the mouth was free of hardware. Ann turned to me and said, ‘Thanks, Dad!’”

Shawn Brama shared this story: “I will never forget the kind words a stranger spoke to me on a greyhound bus. It had been a hard day. My husband had been working out of town for over a month. I was traveling with my two small active toddlers. My eyeglasses had snapped in half. And I couldn’t see anything, unless it was very close to me. I read to the kids story after story, trying to keep them quiet, as many were sleeping around us. Suddenly my three-year-old had to go to the bathroom. I had just watched a man disappear into the bathroom in the back and he had not come out yet. My son was bouncing up and down by this time, so I sang a song about a teddy bear to soothe him. When we finally reached our destination, I felt disheveled, and knew everyone had been staring at us. As we exited the bus, a kind older lady looked me in the eye and said, ‘You are such a wonderful mother.’ I’ve never forgotten how much those words encouraged me.”

Proverbs 12:18 said,

“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”

 

I am sometimes startled at how very little it takes to encourage someone. And how very much it means.

My desire with the humour and message of Laugh Again is that God would use my tongue to spread life, to bring healing, and hope.

And what is the nicest thing someone has ever said to me? It may sound a little sappy, but it’s true. Ramona said, “I do.” And she did. Thanks Babe.