Cultivating KindnessSample

KIND WORDS

When I was a water safety instructor many years ago, I had to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a drowning victim. This involved putting my mouth to their mouth and breathing into their lungs to help them find life again.

As Christians, it is important to check in regularly with ourselves regarding how we use our mouths. As God says, are we speaking grace to those who hear us? Are we speaking the truth at all times? Are we demonstrating to nonbelievers that we truly care about them? When we sit beside them, do they know we’re there to help and not hurt? And when they hear us, do they recognize our words as life-giving?

Kindness is demonstrated through good words. With every breath, we have the opportunity to say words that tear down or words that build up. Nobody is perfect. But with how we talk to others, we can show them that the goodness of God is worth discovering and enjoying. We can allow them to have a taste of God’s kindness by how kind we are to them.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

EPHESIANS 4:29

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

EPHESIANS 4:31–32

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

PROVERBS 16:24

Lord, make my words pleasing to all who hear them. Fill my heart with kindness so that I speak kindness wherever I go.