Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on one good compliment.” We all know what he meant by that. It lifts your spirits to have someone say something genuinely nice to you or about you.
Solomon noted this human truth: “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad” (Proverbs 12:25). Haven’t you experienced days when the morning began just right? Someone in your family mentioned something special about you he/she appreciated. Your boss gave you a compliment as you walked through the door. And then, there was a note in the mail or a phone call from someone you love, and words of cheer entered your heart and carried you through the day.
Since we know how good it feels to receive such expressions from people, shouldn’t we spread the same joy to others? We ought to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to us (Ephesians 5:15; Col. 4:5, 6: Gal. 6:10).
A good word. You don’t have to be rich to give compliments away. You don’t have to be well known to effect others. Even complete strangers reap the benefit of receiving a good word from you.
We hear so many bad words in our world. Let’s start a campaign to balance what people hear. It all begins with a good word!
via Tuscumbia (AL) church of Christ
Bulletin Digest (January 2005)