November 7, 2025
The Bible study time was great, and the Dunkin' Donuts coffee had been oh, so good. It was a wonderful start for the day. Later in the morning, I realized I felt lighthearted; my spirit was buoyed. I had a feeling of joy that lingered.
Pondering the reason, it came to me: an encouraging text from a longtime friend and mentor. He had buoyed my spirits with his kind words.
Proverbs 16:24 tells us, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” I love that verse. Read it again slowly, savoring each bite: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Yes, puh-lease! Merriam-Webster defines the word gracious as “showing a natural kindness and courtesy.” We could use a million more words of kindness and courtesy thrown around like confetti.
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver, is a word spoken at the proper time,” Proverbs 25:11. A word spoken, emailed, messaged, or texted at just the right time… is priceless. Have you ever had a good, kind word exactly when you needed it? I sure have.
I often remember an incredibly kind neighbor one Halloween over 50 years ago. Mrs. Cochran had no idea about our terrible home life. She didn’t know things were bad and would soon get worse. She was just being herself - a honeycomb, sweet to my soul and healing to my bones.
When my sister and I hiked up the stairs to her front door that Trick or Treat night, Mrs. Cochran called each of us by name and said she had something special for us. I didn’t know she even knew me. I had ridden my banana-seat bike by her house a thousand times. Somehow, during an incredibly hard time, she had seen me. I don’t remember what the treat was, but I have never forgotten her kindness.
Not surprisingly, God’s Word has much to say about buoying people’s spirits. The Apostle Paul wrote from prison, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…that it may benefit those who listen,” Ephesians 4:29. We have the power to build up, cheer on, encourage, bolster, and heal with the words we use.
How are we using our vocabulary? Are we cutting, sarcastic, or judgmental? We can be honest, correcting, and instructive without being mean. My mom taught me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” A good verse and prayer is Psalm 141:3: “Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that our tongues have the power of life or death. Choose life! Someone in your day needs a good word. Seriously. So, you go! You be a cheerleader, a Mrs. Cochran, a honeycomb, a buoy-er of spirits. Be salt and light in this dark and hurting world!
Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on…let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” That “Day” is when Jesus comes back. It’s getting closer all the time!
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife, newspaper columnist, and the author of Weiner Stew: Inspiring Stories from Appalachia. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
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