Sweet Words

Sweet treats are a great finish to a good meal - well, actually, to any meal! The Israelites considered honey to be a healthy food as well as a sweetener. God said, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body" (Proverbs 16:24). The same Hebrew word is used in Psalm 19:10, referring to God's Word: "They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb." We all know the sting of hurtful words - those barbs anything but sweet. We also know the delicacy of kind, gentle and gracious words - soothing, a balm to the soul: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver" (Proverbs 25:11). Believers should be ever conscious of our role in speaking life to others; the reward of righteous words is immeasurable - it's what every soul longs for. I love the saying, "life is too short - eat dessert first." How fitting when our lips serve dessert first: speak ... sweet words!