Pr. 15:17 | considering the word

Pr. 15:1: “A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stirs them up.”
Pr. 15:4: “Kind words are good medicine, but deceitful words can really hurt.”
Pr. 15:17: “A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.”

Don’t we all long for kindness and love? Not everyone is kind and loving, but these Proverbs aren’t wrong. A kind word truly can soothe angry feelings, (I’ve tested it) whereas harsh words do stir them up. (sadly, I’ve pushed it on this one too many times to know)

Kind words are such good medicine. And I’d rather sit and eat a raw potato in the presence of love than a 3-course meal with bickering, strife, sadness, and/or hatred.

I don’t think I’m the exception to this.

Pr. 15:30: “A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong.”

Yep! That’s for certain. There’s nothing worse than seeing someone approaching with a big frown or a scowl on their face. And nothing better than seeing a big smile. 🙂

And good news? The effects can sometimes last for days!

Are we still in the business or habit of sharing good news or kind words? Are we being intentional about encouragement and love? Are we trying to make sure our words aren’t harsh or deceitful?

If not, this is a great reminder of the reasons why we should. It matters to us and to the people around us.

Have a happy day! 🙂

jamie

Pr. 15:17: “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.”

I have been to dinners/breakfasts where there was some level of tension, although perhaps not pure hatred. It is always an uncomfortable experience. No matter what magnificent meal has been prepared, no matter what other company is present, or how pretty the table setting may be, the tension is so heavy that it makes the fork hard to lift.

Our accommodations during our family vacation last week were a nice 8-person tent. Packing our car as lightly as possible meant that all meals were planned in advanced, dehydrated, and bagged for each day to ensure that they took up less space and were camp stove ready. We didn’t have anything that would be considered gourmet, but those meals were some of the best of my life. 🙂

Because there were no distractions, we spent our meals playing games, enjoying beautiful views, laughing, and talking about our day and our plans. Each meal, no matter what we ate, was wonderful. (Even beyond the fact that everything tastes even better to me when eaten while camping)

I am thankful for a family full of love. I am also thankful for the reminder that perfection is over-rated. The most important thing in our lives, outside of God, is relationship. When we focus on building and growing our relationships first, the menu just no longer matters. It’s the experience that counts.

Planning some delectable relationship time for dinner tonight,

jamie