It’s events like the celebration of Mother’s Day that make it clear God had a reason for Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Saying thank 
you, listing someone’s positive character traits, bragging on them, telling them you appreciate them – all of those things make it difficult to become hardened in the heart. There is a warmth and a softness that comes when the words we express are kind ones.
The opposite is also true. Haven’t you noticed that when you snap out a harsh word or criticize an action it begins a negative chain reaction? The first time you are critical makes the second time easier. The second time you put someone down takes even less effort. The third time you verbally express a nasty thought makes the fourth time a piece of cake. You begin to go downhill emotionally and spiritually. Sin’s deceitfulness is at work. When we maliciously criticize one of God’s children we have fallen into the trap of mistrust and unbelief. For doesn’t scripture tell us in many different ways that each is created in God’s own image, formed in the mother’s womb by the hands of God, and set into this life with a purpose? How can we then bitterly criticize?
Notice that the scripture says we are to encourage one another so that our own hearts are not hardened. Is that what you meant to do when you spoke out in anger toward the person who irritated or hurt you today? Of course not! How unfair that you are the one who walks away damaged.
Yet for every action there is a reaction. Your heart will respond in some way to every word you speak. Cold words will result in a chilled center of your being, drawing you into a tight little ball. Warm words will result in a heated core radiating out to cause expansion.
The best thing we can do every day is down a dose of warmhearted reaching-out with encouragement in the morning, follow it up with a spoonful of sweet expressions in the afternoon and top it off with a goodnight kiss of gentle words before we go to bed. Sin can’t deceive a heart that has expanded fully to God’s truth.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil 4:8
Beautiful post. Love the point that speaking kind words keeps the heart from hardening–for both the giver and receiver, I think. I need to adjust this in my life. I remember reading a quote from Mother Theresa about expressing everything in the positive. She wouldn’t attend an anti-war rally, but she would participate in a peace convention. Though people and situations may upset me, there is something to be said about expressing myself and ideals in a positive manner. Thanks for the reminder, Cheryl! I’ll be watching my words this week and work towards creating a habit for positive speaking in the future!
Thank you. I was thinking yesterday how we could change the world one kind word/one random act of kindness at a time. I am watching my words this week also.
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