Mom Heart Moments #146

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.

I HAVE MET SO MANY TWENTYSOMETHINGS who have scars from their parents, whether by parents who never encouraged them, were too busy, or were just always critical of what their children did. “My parents never listened to me. They never understood me. They were always angry at me,” these twentysomethings say.

But if we were to look at the Word, Jesus Himself, we would see intentional encouragement. “Peter, you are the rock” (see Matthew 16:18). “Nathanael, a man in whom there is no guile” (see John 1:47). To the centurion: “No one has had faith like you” (see Matthew 8:10). “Mary, your story will be told for all time” (see Matthew 26:13). Jesus always took time to show love by speaking words of life. He even believed in Peter and encouraged him as he was about to rebel: “Peter, Satan has desired to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you . . .” (see Luke 22:31-32).

Kind words held back could keep a person from hope, faith, and affirmation. And how many cruel words have caused children to be scarred, dreams dashed, hope obliterated? Jesus tells us we should be very careful of our words, as we will be held accountable for them someday (Matthew 12:36).

Encouraging and affirming words —words of life, as I like to call them —have power to give hope and strengthen others. If I, a grown woman, need them to keep me going through hard times, my children need them even more. Positive words act as water and sunshine to our souls to help them grow strong.

In Proverbs 15:4, how is a soothing tongue a tree of life? How do bitter words stunt growth?