Often we may hear a mother telling her young child to “Be nice” when they have said or done something rash to another child. As adults, we are no less reminded to “Be nice.” We may be too quick to make comments or point out our own observations about things others have done or decided to do. We are all limited in our knowledge of whatever facts and circumstances may have gone into someone else’s actions. James says in James 1:19 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.”
The words we use and the manner in which we deliver them can cause either great hurt or be wonderfully uplifting; it depends greatly upon each one of us. Paul reminds us in Colossians 4:6, ” Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, …” He further adds in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Let’s all resolve to keep ourselves in check so that no one needs to tell us to “Be nice,” but rather we will be doing so already. Paul said in Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ, also has forgiven you.” He added that not only should we be kind, but we should go further and be a blessing to one another, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing”. (I Thess. 5:11).
The many good thoughts and words you wrote on the cards to the elders are examples of “being nice.” They were very encouraging and uplifting. I keep them by my bedside and occasionally pull one out to read and remind myself how blessed I am to have you for my church family.
For the elders, Gregg Woodall