Welcome Words

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

When my manager walked by, I was looking over a shirt, holding it up for consideration.

“That would look great on you,” she said firmly. Decisively, even.

“Really?” I asked, still in doubt. “This color?”

Pausing from her task, she looked back at me. “Especially that color.”

At first, I felt a little stunned at how adamant her tone was, but after a moment, the kind words sank in. I could feel myself starting to glow from the inside out.

Now beaming from ear to ear, I nodded in response. As I went back to what I’d been working on, the warmth remained.

I’d been working at a new job in retail for a couple of months but had felt too shy to take advantage of the generous employee discount. As a result, I hadn’t tried on or purchased anything yet. I was grateful for the manager’s kind-yet-earnest tone, which did wonders for boosting my confidence. As the shift ended and we closed the store for the day, I quickly walked into the dressing room and tried on the shirt. Just as she’d predicted, it looked great on me.

Compliments can seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but even our small words hold great power. I’m sure my manager thought nothing of her throwaway comments, but the surety with which she said them made an impact that I can still remember almost two decades later.

How often do you and I compliment someone else to the degree that they begin to believe it about themselves? The Bible reminds us that sincere words provide life and vitality. On good days, they give us an extra dose of confidence. But on hard days, they can feel like an infusion of living water to our thirsty hearts and souls. Each of us has the power to change what others believe about themselves with just the right remark. Words are life, and when we wield them well, we share that life-giving power with others.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Encourage someone with a sincere compliment, and thank someone who has complimented you.