Recently I encouraged you to speak kindly of everyone. Today I want you to go on the offensive. Not only should you strive to speak kindly of everyone, but the ONE THING for today is: “Speak kindly to everyone.”
I call this: Serving ‘soul food’. I don’t care who you are, you need encouragement. And let me give you a couple of benefits that may motivate you.
First, if you will exert the effort to think of something kind and encouraging to speak to everyone it changes the way you see them. It is amazing how many positive quality people have if you take the time to really think about it – even the most cantankerous ones.
But more importantly, I have discovered that your commitment level to this habit is a great “dashboard gauge” to help you monitor the health of your own soul.
Let’s be honest, it is very easy to get consumed with self. The danger is that we will become so busy thinking about ourselves that we do not even think about encouraging others. Or worse yet, we become so sick emotionally that we can’t think of anything good to say about ourselves, more less anyone else. It takes a healthy person to get their attention off themselves and on to others. I have discovered that the reason so few people are good at “serving soul food” is that their own soul is not healthy.
Starting today I encourage you to make it a lifelong habit to go through your day speaking kindly TO everyone – speak words of encouragement and affirmation into people’s lives; you’re be amazed at the transformation that will occur.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due
when it is in the power of your hand to do so
Proverbs 3:27
The ONE THING 