There once was a little boy named Billy who got in a fight with another boy at school – and lost. Billy got home, and his mother told him to put some ice on his black eye. While he was sitting there, he told his mom that the whole thing was the other boy’s fault. He’s the one who threw the first punch after Billy had said some ugly words.

His mother let him finish icing his black eye, then she took him to the back door of their home, which looked out on several large hills. She told him to call those hills the worst names he could think of – and he did. Every time he said a bad name, it came right back to him.

“Now,” she said, “call out, ‘God bless you.’” He did so and back came, “God bless you.”

It’s a general rule of life that others usually treat you according to how you treat them. If you use harsh words and insults, then that’s probably what you’re going to get back. But if you speak words of blessing into others’ lives, that’s often what you’ll reap.

Use words of kindness and compassion to others and show them God’s love – because that’s exactly what you want to get back!

Prayer Challenge:

Pray that God would season your speech with compassion and kindness – so that others would see Him through you.

Questions for Thought:

How does it make you feel when others use negative words toward you?

Who are some people in your life today to whom you can make it a point to speak words of kindness and compassion?