Words can lift one up or they can bring one down.  Actually, some words can last a lifetime that will never go away, always popping up to remind just how bad of a person one might be. Some unnecessary, rude comments can cut so bad that the heart will never heal. A knife in the back would heal quicker.

It is when these words or comments come and never seem to leave, often slapping your face with the lies and thoughts and feelings of others. As hard as it is, you must not dwell there and must forgive for your own sake and sanity. Trust that the Lord heard and knows the one(s) that spoke and He knows about this hurt and pain within.

At times, it is right to speak up but for the most part, trust Him to fight your battles. Why allow their words to cause you to go ballistic and both sides appear foolish, not solving a thing but causing more harm.

Forgiveness is a must. Easy? No! Will that happen overnight? No, probably not. Will it take years? Possibly. Forgiveness is for you to move forward. It’s freeing.

Some kind words can carry another for days when everything seems to be falling apart. Even a kind smile with no words spoken. Behind the masks these days, the smiles are not as evident but the eyes show care and concern, so accept them and return. Be kind.

Isn’t it nice to hear some of these phrases: I am proud of you, I am so glad you are in my life, You bless my life by being in it, I have faith in you and these are just a few. People are feeling hopeless more than ever nowadays, whether a child or up to an adult with or without degrees after their name as a professional. We all need encouragement.

At times life is just at a standstill. A timely word of encouragement will push one forward and an untimely, unnecessary word or comment can sometimes put one on the brink of giving up.

What do you want to be remembered for, to be kind or indifferent to rude? Let’s lift one another up instead of tearing down or leaving a moment when a kind word would be benefited to cause another to smile and gain hope.

In my own experience, I have had words almost kill me, actually they did within relationships, sadly of family members. This past year or so, if just a few words of encouragement from someone special was said in a written note as a reply, such as ‘I am proud of you,’ it would have meant the world to me. Of course, it was not expressed and my heart broke. I needed that hope.

Other times though and thankfully, words were said or in a written form that were burned within my mind and heart that I hold onto to keep hope alive and my steps moving forward to goals and dreams. Those little words of encouragement here and there are like gold. Gold is rare to find, sifting through the muck and sometimes life is trudging through the muck and then one day, a glimpse of gold is found, there is hope to keep going.

We have a choice of lifting up or tearing down.