I always enjoy going to see my dentist. I know that sounds weird, but it’s not because I enjoy the dental work. In fact, my dentist is in Kerrisdale, and it took almost three hours to get to and from the appointment today due to the construction in Vancouver.
Despite the wasted time on the road, I still had a great day because my dentist is the most encouraging person ever. Every time I see him, I feel like I’m receiving a report card with straight A’s on it.
He usually starts the appointment with, “ah, that’s perfect, Paul! You’ve been flossing well and taking care of your teeth. Well done!”
He always asks about my family, my church, and how I’m doing. It almost feels like I’ve had a session with a therapist.
Encouraging words can be powerful. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
This doesn’t mean that we can’t have difficult conversations and hold one another accountable, but it does mean that our default use of language should be encouraging and “good for building up.”
Let’s do a bit of homework this week. Evaluate how you use your words. Are your words slanderous, overly critical, or tearing down of others? Or are they encouraging? I hope your words “give grace to those who hear” this week.
