Pleasant Words ~ Saints and Scripture Sunday

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
~ Proverbs 16:24

I stitched this sampler well over two decades ago because I liked the colors and the pattern - the verse was just an added bonus. As the years have passed this tidbit of scripture has proved itself true to me time and time again. I can't count how many times a kind word has turned my day around, given me a new perspective. It doesn't have to be anything important or deeply meaningful, and it can be from a complete stranger. It can be someone in an elevator telling me they hope my day goes well, or an elderly lady in Target complimenting my child's manners. I've found that it also improves my attitude when I'm the one speaking the pleasant words. There have been days when I've been in a truly foul mood and forced myself to go find someone to be nice to in order to pull myself out of the "funk". One day this almost backfired on me, though.

I was in the hospital and my grumpiness had turned into something vicious - I was spoiling for a fight. I decided rather than head to the office in this humor and possibly get fired for being so mean and nasty I'd say something nice to the next person I saw and turn my mood around. I walked out into the hall and saw a white-haired gentleman waiting on a stretcher. He was wearing a bright orange golf shirt and it really suited his coloring - he looked robust and rosy-cheeked. I walked toward him with a smile on my face to compliment him on his choice of attire, but as I caught his eye and opened my mouth to speak I saw the person sitting on a chair nearby wasn't an attentive daughter, it was a prison guard. His fashion-forward orange shirt was a prison jumpsuit. He was looking at me expectantly, so I patted his shoulder and asked if he was doing OK, if he needed anything? He said he was fine, and I managed to get around the corner before I collapsed against the wall laughing. Still, I think it improved both our days - probably mine more than his!

This verse in the Bible more than any other proves to me that God is a woman and that She is most likely a well-brought-up Southern girl. Either that or we well-brought-up Southern girls are God's particular favorites. Same difference.

Join Dianna at The Kennedy Adventures for Saints and Scripture Sunday every week. You never know what you'll find there!