She came to our first meeting prepared, with half a dozen legal pages full of notes. It was clear she had taken a lot of time to ready herself for this meeting.
The same was true for the next meeting, and the next, and the next.
As our group divided and conquered for a big presentation, she was always the one going the extra mile, making phone calls and doing additional research to make us better. Through her fact-finding mission, her light shined brightly.
And so, a few days before the meeting, I went to her cubicle and thanked her for her work. I don’t remember my words, but I know that my heart wanted to let her know that she was appreciated and made a difference.
I never expected what would happen the next day.
We happened to arrive at our office at the same time and she said to me, “You know, I was thinking about what you said to me last night…”
Did you catch that? She went home that night, hours after I spoke to her and thought about my words. The next morning, when I saw her for the first time, they were still on her heart, while I had not thought of them since I walked away from her desk.
This is what kind words do. Like it says in Proverbs 16:24: “Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Kind words are balm for our souls. We need to both give and receive kind words.
Too often I find myself going about my day so quickly that I miss opportunities to extend a simple kind word. Perhaps you do the same?
My colleague’s response reminded me that this is not how we should live. We need be be proactive, and take just a few seconds to say thank you, you matter. You helped me. You made a difference.
Now I look for opportunities to say kind words and verbally acknowledge people’s good works, what they mean to me or even just how they look.
I don’t know why this was such an a-ha moment of me. Of course kind words leave an impact. So many times in my own life, a person’s words have stuck with me, long after a conversation ended.
Today I want to encourage you to share a kind word with someone. Make their day – and take a moment to let it make yours, too.
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Thanks Jessica!! I love this reminder. As we’ve moved overseas I realize how much I miss the gift of words from heart language to heart language. It’s so easy to take it for granted that you simply have the words of another’s heart to give! I am thankful for the God bless you’s and thanks I can give even in another language and I’ve learned enough to say more. I guess I just want to encourage everyone what a gift it is when you share heart language and to give this gift often and much!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words.
Jessica,
I had been in the practice of texting my grown children a few words of encouragement each day. Then life gets crazy and I fall out of the practice. I get lazy. Though they may not tell me my words mean a lot, your post reminds me of what a balm our words can be to another’s heart. I’m going to get back into the practice – thanks for the gentle reminder that I needed!
Blessings,
Bev
What an amazing gift to your children. Wow. I hope to emulate that practice when my kids are older.
Thanks, Jessica, for reminding us of the power of WORDS! Really it takes so little time to stop and speak an encouraging word. I guess we get busy and distracted and don’t think of it, but it IS amazing the difference one little sentence can make. I’ve been on the receiving end and know how it can make my day.
Love, love, love! I love that you saw her and took the time to tell her. It’s not always easy being a woman in workplace…I’ve said it before…your co-workers are blessed to have you!
You are too sweet. I am blessed to work with a lot of amazing men AND women.
This is beautiful truth! We never know what God might do in another life through our kind words. Thank you for the encouragement!
We influence with every word, movement and action…and only occasionally are we reminded by their recipients. Oh to leave His footprints wherever we go.
Love this! I so strongly believe in the power of kind words. Thank you for a beautiful reminder.
That is so true. Thanks for sharing. We never know what someone might be going through at the moment we share a kind word with them that might make the biggest difference in their lives…
So very true and we always need a reminder of just how powerful our words are. They can be unforgiving, unforgetting when they are angry or nasty or hurtful. The written word can so easily be misinterpreted and so, I read and re-read before hitting send on that text message or the email… Good word for this day.
O good and kind words are so nice. If but everyone would be nice and kind and use kind words. When I was young and wild and used to run about wildly in school .. no one stopped me and when I was naughty I was asked kindly not to do it again. I was amazed and did not do it again. It was a loving way to teach me, I thought. I honestly did not do it again. I was wild and would love to run free.
Kind words are so good for our well being. Loving words.
Every day I say loving and kind and good words to my husband and tell him how much I love him and he smiles though he finds it so …. encouraging and good for his heart and health.
If but everyone would know how to be nice.
I’m nice to my friends and use loving words to them.
Sometimes they are so mean to me and I do not know why they abuse my loving nature. So, I think ….. they are best with people who use unkind words to each other.
So, I just hang out with those who know how to use kind and loving words.
I’ve just got to a point in my life where it’s just no longer worth the abuse.
Yes, words can hurt, can’t they? I have been in that situation too. You are wise to protect yourself from those that hurt you. You are in my prayers today.
Thank you for this lovely reminder to encourage one another. A kind word travels far…..
I love that phrase!
Love this. It is so true. A simple thank you can sometime lift my spirits for the entire day!
TRUTH!!
Jessica, thank you so much for this reminder today. Your philosophy is one I truly try to live by each day, going about my routine with home, work and family. Right now as I type this, I am on business travel with a group of people I don’t know well. They are perfectly nice but the description “sarcastic” would most accurately describe their language. A recovering cynic myself, I don’t take offense but notice that – maybe in order to keep up? Fit in? Be accepted? – my words are veering in that direction. I hate it! I wooke up this morning feeling so out of balance. Thank you for reminding me that kind words ALWAYS make a difference. And even when (maybe especialy when?) those around me are not using them, I still should. Bless your heart for this post!
Well done, being a light and an example. Peace to you today!
I love this – but I feel I have to share what has been on my heart over the last few months:
As I leave home to head for the office – I see various young people heading off to school, some in groups and some on their own and I always think of how tough it was when my daughter took that walk, then I had a ‘eureka’ moment – now for every one of them I see I pray that they will be blessed with ‘kind words’ both in their ears and in their mouths.
I know it wasn’t my idea – but the balm it gives me to know I am praying for these people helps me no end and I am sure the Lord is answering my prayers – He always does, doesn’t He?
I feel this has made me stop and think – I need to pray that blessing on more people that I see / encounter not just the youngsters going to school.
Thank you for prompting me x
I love this prayer!
To-day I think people need more encouragement , understanding and caring.
Don’t we all!? I am praying for you today. Peace to you.
So very true! I didn’t have a lot of kind words spoken over me growing up, so maybe that’s why I feel so compelled to do just the opposite now. Besides, we all need a cheering section some days! I’m so glad you shared your story today.
And thank you for sharing yours.
My brother was a pilot in Europe during WW11. Every time he got in the cockpit he prayed a very simple prayer. God make me able and keep me stable. Simple but what we all hope for in our day to day living.
I love that – what a wise man your brother was!
You are so right. Being nice can make all the difference in the world. I remember sweet things people say to me for YEARS. Even now, looking back years, I can remember specific people and what they said to me especially when I was going through a tough time. It matters.
Yes, it DOES matter. Thank you for sharing here.
Thanks for the reminder. We need to be encouragers to women!
Jessica,
“Proverbs 16:24: “Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” That speaks right to my soul. I get a bounce in my step when people compliment me or say I’m doing a good job. Know how that makes me feel I try to reciprocate/pay it forward with others.
I send e-cards, notes, cards, etc. to people who need to know that I’m praying for them or to tell them how much they mean to me. It might not be much, but it just might be the spirit lifter they need.
Blessings 🙂
We all need kind words of encouragement spoken to us every day. Our husband and children. I send encouragement cards to women, and sick children and children with disabilities to let then know I am thinking about them and care about them.