Enoughनमूना

There are certain games we play where we're reminded of how important words can be. Nothing stings more than when someone sarcastically says, "Sorrry", as they throw down a Draw Four card in UNO! When words aren't backed up with actions, we can stop believing in them.

In today's reading, James talks through the ways our words and actions work together to show people our hearts. Words and actions are so important to the way we interact with our families. We never want to be in a position where our loving words lose their impact or meaning. So, we should always back up our words with acts of care, support, and encouragement. But this idea isn't just for our relationships with our family — it's for all of our relationships. We can choose to not only tell people we love them, but we can back those words up with the way we live.

Our actions help to reinforce our words, and they can speak loudly for us in the moments when we may not be sure what to say. But for us to act well in these moments, we may need to notice what we're feeling, pay attention to our own limitations, and explore what makes us hesitant. Once we do, we can work to help others feel seen and to show them love without ever needing to speak a word. When we're part of God's family, we believe our actions can speak when words aren't enough.