[134 words]
Dr. Willard Funk, the well-known dictionary publisher, was asked to select the ten most expressive words in the English language. The following is his list:
The bitterest word: alone
The most tragic word: death
The most revered word: mother
The most beautiful word: love
The cruelest word: revenge
The most peaceful word: tranquil
The saddest word: forgotten
The warmest word: friendship
The coldest word: no
The most comforting word: faith
Words can build up or tear down. They can comfort or hurt; they can encourage or humiliate. They can be sweet or bitter. A Christian, who seeks to imitate the gentle nature of Christ, should be careful with words. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).
Glenn Hitchcock
Heart to Heart, House to House