If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Do you remember being taught this as a child? Once the words have escaped the lips, there’s no getting them back. They are out there and are hard forgotten.
Monday, June 1 was National Say Something Nice Day. The day was established in 2006 by North Charleston, South Carolina, then-Mayor Keith Summey. This is something to be celebrated every day and not just once a year.
Think of a person who always seems to have something kind to say. Their words are uplifting, encouraging, comforting, and inspiring. They seem to know just what to say and when to say it. You feel the sincerity rather than feeling shmoozed. There is a genuineness that cannot be missed. You enjoy being around that person, don’t you?
Finding something nice to say isn’t all that difficult. First, we just start out by BEING a nice person. If we are a nice person, saying nice things won’t be that difficult.
Now, I fully admit that there are some folks out there that you might have to really try hard to find that positive and pleasant thing to say. But nice people don’t have to try as hard. It ultimately starts with our heart attitude and general demeanor.
Jesus said in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” This is why it is so important for our hearts to be right. The words that flow from our lips are merely the expression of what’s in our heart. We can try and excuse ourselves by saying, “Well, I didn’t really mean it,” but that is not true. It was in our heart and overflowed from our mouth.
There is a verse of Scripture that if you don’t have it memorized, I would encourage you to get it tucked firmly in your memory. It’s Psalms 19:14. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Would God find all of our words “acceptable?” Would God say that our words have been acceptable this past week? He heard every word. He was present during every conversation. Nothing is withheld or hidden from Him.
Paul told the church of Ephesus to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) Those are acceptable words. Ephesians 5:3-4 says, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; (4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” And Colossians 3:8 says, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” These are words that are not acceptable.
Find nice, pleasant things to say every day. Remember that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
