Kind words are powerful.
In the mornings I hear a chorus of chirpy dings as emails drop into my inbox. Notes from friends. New posts on blogs I follow. Headlines from a few news agencies.
Yesterday one email changed my day.
A person wrote me to tell me how much she liked reading Healthy Spirituality. “You never know how far yours goes but please know that you make a difference to a small Congregational church in Massachusetts.”
Now I am not sharing this to brag or asking for more compliments. Mark Twain wrote: “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Notice he didn’t say dwell on them, brag about them, or refuse them. He let them digest to build his inner strength and nourishment.
What amazed me what my reaction to her email. Her kind words washed over me, refreshed me and lifted my spirits. I think I smiled the rest of the day.
“One kind word can warm three winters.”
A Japanese Proverb
Her email also reminded me about my mom. My mom had many “Momisms” that still guide me today. I shared some of my favorites on a post about her last Easter.
The one my family still laughs about the most is:
Wish in one hand and pee in the other and see which one you fill first.
 |
| Yep that is me! |
One expression my mom would say that this one kind email brought to mind was this:
If you hear a compliment or think a nice thought about someone, pass it onto them.
The world can be a tough place and human nature tends to focus on the negative. One mean look or whiny complaint ruins what otherwise was a decent day. Even unintentional comments by friends haunt us and reverberate in our hearts. Life bruises our fragile souls.
Wouldn’t it be terrific if in February, the month of love, we take the time to pass on some kind words to one another?
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch
a smile,
a kind word,
a listening ear,
an honest compliment
or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life around
Leo Buscaglia
My email friend did that for me yesterday.
I am going to pay attention more and speak up, passing on kind words this month. (Ok, would be a good lifelong habit too)
Join me?
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
Have kind words ever changed your day?
I hope you all doing better. I didn’t get around to as many blogs as usual last week either. Just let life’s busyness take over. Glad you liked the post on Kind words. It certainly reminded me of this important lesson. Let keep passing kindness onward!
I’m sorry I’ve not been present at your blog lately. My hubby’s been in the hospital and I came down with gastrointestinal flu. We’re both on the mend, so next week should be much better!
This post is a gift of kindness in itself, Jean, as we catch a glimpse of your delightful mother, enjoy with you your compliment, and as always, revel in your well-chosen quotes.
You are so right–kind words can ring joyously in our ears for years. Just as wise King Solomon said: “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25). That’s all it takes, a kind word, to transform anxiety to cheer. I want to provide that kind of medication to the hurting souls around me.
P.S. Thank you for the compliment of including “Humble Pie” in your list of great blogs.!
what a beautiful and inspirational post. thank you for adding your wonderful blog to the Thursday Favorite Things hop. xo
Thanks Karen. I gain lots of inspiration from emails and comments and reading other blogs like yours too.
Jeanie, you are so inspirational and that comment was right on! I can see you in your mother’s smile. Lovely photos. Endearing!
Hi Mary, thanks for sharing your exciting news about the change in your blog. I bet many of your home decor buddies will follow you and you will have a whole new audience too. I will hop over and see your new post soon.
Thanks for connecting.
I am so glad we connected. Even though we live far apart it seems like we know each other doesn’t it?
Thanks for your kind words. No regrets!
Words can be so powerful either way. Just the other day a good friend said something, very unintentional that haunted me for days. really bothered me. But God used her words to give me insight so something good came from the hurt.
love your last sentence – keep quiet when the unimportant truth will do more harm than good. so true!!!
Praying for you, dear friend
I am being blessed this morning. I recently decided to stop “home decor” blogging and put the Lord on the throne of my blog. It was a little scary because all my blogging friends are home decor peeps who might not want to read my new comment. But I trusted the Lord in this. Just yesterday I wrote the blog post announcing the big change coming in my blog, it’ll post tomorrow. So imagine my overwhelming JOY when this morning I start reading Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop links and find new friends, quickly adding them to my daily blog read (sidebar). I am thrilled to add you, and so thankful to my Lord who is faithful.
Hugs ~ Mary
Dearest Jean
When I read our post, I actually felt a pang of regret that I was beaten by the other lady in telling you how I appreciate not just your words, but you yourself. I am always glad when I see a post from you in my inbox and when you comment on my posts, I am ALWAYS encouraged.
Yes, dear One, this is such true words! I have often been hurt by people telling me the truth in such a hurtful way, that I wonder who was the most in the wrong!
I wonder when people, and that includes me, would learn to talk little, listen and hear much and keep quiet when the unimportant truth will do more harm than good!
Much love XX
Mia