“Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV

Aesop, the famed fable author, said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, ever is wasted.” As one pastor wrote, “It costs to be unkind, but it pays to be kind.” Now, being kind doesn’t mean tolerating wrong or refusing to confront a problem in order to be politically correct. Sometimes we must confront. But it should always be done in a gracious way. A calm demeanor will go a lot further than a harsh comment or an ugly tone of voice. You can make your point with a kind spirit and even a sense of humour. Don’t be like the guy who was standing in line to buy an airline ticket. When he reached the counter, he said, “I’d like to purchase a ticket to New York City.” The agent said, “No problem. How many pieces of luggage do you have?” The passenger replied, “I have three.” The agent asked, “Would you like me to check all three to New York?” The guy replied, “No, I want to send the first bag to Phoenix, the second to Seattle, and the third to London.” Dumbfounded, the clerk looked at him and said, “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t do that.” The man smiled and said, “I don’t see why not; that’s what you did last week.” You will always make your point more effectively with a butter knife than a butcher knife. Remember: “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” If you’re serious about living by the teachings of God’s Word, today try to be gracious.

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024