p. 195 | The Power of Words

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 21, 1865

The Power of Words.

THERE is a passage in the Bible which teaches that what comes out of the mouth is a great deal more important than what goes in; and we are told in the same book that it is better to live upon very plain food with those that love us, than to feed upon luxuries which are given with unkind words. Now I believe that almost all brothers and sisters, parents and children love one another. But in some families they think it is very silly to say anything about it, and you might pass a week with them and never hear a single affectionate word. They never say to each other: "I love you," or "That is right, dear," or "You are a good boy." They do not like to say "Thank you," if they can help it, and if you were to ask them why they act thus, they would say: "What is the use of always saying soft things? My friends know that I love them; when things are all right, I have nothing to say, when they are all wrong, it will be soon enough to speak." Now you children do not believe this. You are very fond of kind words. You like to be reminded of all the pleasant things. If you have beautiful eyes and a homely nose, you will like much better to hear your mother say, "There comes my bright-eyed little girl," than to hear her always greeting you with: "Good morning, Miss Snub-nose." Both expressions have truth in them, but one is a pleasant truth and the other is not.