A flight attendant once told me that every day she keeps in mind that every passenger has a story. Each passenger is traveling in response to something like a need for a vacation, work request, to see family or friends. Some are happy to be traveling and others are sad. No matter what, each person has been hurt in their past and is in need of kindness. Knowing this helped her to give grace to the hundreds of people she came in contact with each day. She also felt like it was her duty to bring some joy into their life no matter why they were traveling. Her wisdom changed my perspective. I began to think of the people I see throughout my day and how many hidden hurts and struggles they could be going through. The words I say to them in our interaction could bring hurt or healing.
In 1 Samuel 1 we read the story of Elkanah and his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Hannah wasn’t able to have kids and Peninnah was. In that time period, infertility was looked at as a punishment from God. Rather than feel,sorry for her, Peninnah treated Hannah poorly. Verse 7 says, “Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat” (NLT). Her husband’s words weren’t much better towards her either. However, in bitter weeping before the Lord, the healing words from the priest told her she would have her request granted by God. She began to eat and had a son named Samuel not long after.
Proverbs 12:18 says, “Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt. But the words of the wise soothe and heal” (TPT). Do the words you speak to those closest to you stab and hurt them or bring healing and relief? What about the passengers of life that you come in contact with? You never know how much the words you say to someone can change the trajectory of their day or life. You have the power of life and death in the words you choose to use each day. Choose words that soothe and heal. Choose to show someone they are loved by the Word, as John referred to Jesus, that gives eternal life. You can bring healing to the wounds that were left by the words of someone else.
Photo by asaf rovny on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 