“Kind words are the music of the world. They have a power which seems to be beyond natural causes, as if they were some angel’s song which had lost its way and come on earth. It seems as if they could almost do what in reality God alone can do—soften the hard and angry hearts of men. No one was ever corrected by a sarcasm—crushed, perhaps, if the sarcasm was clever enough—but drawn nearer to God, never.”
– F. W. Faber (Leaves of Gold, pg. 162)
Angel music must be awesome, don’t you think? I’ve never actually heard angel music, at least not that I am aware. Still, I have imagined it many times, and I always imagine it to be majestic, sweet, in perfect tune of course, and deeply satisfying to the soul. Like me, maybe you have wondered what the shepherds heard on the night that Jesus’ birth was announced. We traditionally picture that as angelic music, although the text of Luke 2 does not actually say the angels were singing. Whatever they sound like, and in whatever way they may find their way into our earthly existence, the songs of angels must be balm for an anxious heart.
We are reminded often of the power of words. Sometimes that reminder takes the angle of caution against harmful words. The image used in James 3:5-6 is memorable, how the tongue is like that small spark that sets a forest ablaze. But do we consider kind words to have the same potential? What great feat is accomplished by the benevolent, healing word spoken at just the right time? Speaking such a word requires almost no effort and perhaps just a little intentional, prayerful thought. However, to have such a word spoken to us can potentially be the best gift one receives in a day. To speak a kind word costs nothing; to receive a kind word is priceless.
Consider what a kind word might accomplish. If we have the impression that our relationship with someone is at odds, a warm greeting received can help put our hearts at ease. Or consider the people you encounter casually, like the bank teller or the grocery clerk. You have a window of a couple of minutes to affect their day. It may be that five minutes prior they were scolded by a customer for things beyond their control. How powerful might your kind word be to them at a time like that? Let’s not forget those who are closest to us: spouses, children, parents, the people we can so easily take for granted. It is possible that we spend all of our kind words on others and save none for our precious kindred. They, too, need the healing of an angel’s lost song.
As you make your way through the day, see if you can capture that angel’s song wafting along, and give voice to it for others to hear.
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 