I was wandering around the tourist area of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Shelves with tacky little statues, snow globes with leaning towers, and $10 T-shirts crowded small booths for tourists.
Shifty men with cases of “genuine fake” watches swarmed like bees. Rolex, Cartier, and Infinity—all for fifty bucks or less. Flashing fake gold and flaunting fake brands; their swift feet were ready to run if the authorities were to show up.
“No thank you, no thank you, no thank you,” I sang as I swam through the men hocking their wares.
Then I spotted her. She sat on a bench with colorful scarves for purchase draped over her arm. A blue, yellow and red headdress wound around her head, and a purple full-length dress hung loosely from her shoulders. The bright colors shone against the backdrop of polished mahogany skin.
Tired eyes.
Tired feet.
Tired life.
What appeared to be her “handler” shared the bench with her. I walked over and bent low to look her in the eyes. “You are so beautiful,” I said.
“Deese?” she questioned as she held up the scarves for examination.
“No, not the scarves,” I replied. “YOU are beautiful!” I waved my hand from the top of her head to the hem of her dress and back up again. “YOU, all of you!”
She turned to the indifferent man beside her for translation. When she understood, her face lit up like morning and her ivory teeth flashed like a slice of sun. She simply nodded as if to say, “Thank you.”
I walked back over to the group I was traveling with, and in a few moments I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the woman. Without words, she handed me a bracelet, one I’m thinking she had made herself.
It wasn’t anything fancy—just little white lettered cubes with alternating black beads strung together with elastic. But I wonder what it cost her to give it to a tourist.
I didn’t offer to pay for the gift. That would have taken away her pleasure in giving it. I did hand her a few coins for allowing me to take her picture.
I showed her the image of herself in my camera. “Beautiful,” I said once again. She smiled with a nod. Walked back to the bench. And handed the coins to the man.
Tears filled my eyes.
I don’t know what this woman’s life is like. I pray my assumptions are wrong. But I do know this: For one brief moment in her monotonous day of pedaling scarves, she felt lovely…because someone stopped and noticed her.
The Bible says, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24 ESV). Oh, how easy it is—this speaking a word of encouragement—this speaking words of life.
As you go about your day, look for opportunities to say a kind word. I promise, you won’t have to look very far.
Heavenly Father, I know that kind words are easy to speak. What I don’t know is why I don’t do it more often. Open my eyes and my mouth to speak kind words to those I come in contact with today. Use me as an instrument of Your grace to sweeten someone’s life today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Become a sleuth today…be on the lookout for someone who needs a kind word. You could change the course of someone’s day…the course of someone’s life.
Leave a comment and share a time when someone gave you a word of encouragement and how it made you feel.
Digging Deeper
Words are one of the most powerful gifts that God has given us. He didn’t entrust them to zebras, cows, or cats. He gave words to man! What a responsibility. If you would like to learn more about how to speak words of life to those around you, this book is for you! The Power of a Woman’s Words: How the Words You Speak Shape the Lives of Others.
Our words echo in the hearts and minds long after they are spoken. We can learn how to tame the tongue by applying practical principles that help us think before we speak.
Comments 39
Beautiful Devotional. So so true. Living words to each other is exactly what this country needs.
Amen!
I needed this reminder! Thank you!
This spoke to me. Praying for kind words to speak to others. Thank you!
I love this, thank you so much. I find it easier to say kind words to those who have shown kindness to me. Today, I challenge myself to show kindness to those who have not shown kindness to me.
Tanika,
When you say a kind word to a stranger, the response is shock, usually. It is my honor to thank a store employee or just a stranger who looks tired or worse.
I encourage you to meet your challenge. You will soooooo blessed,
We are starting this Bible Study in our Life Group, Mary’s Group, will share with the ladies tomorrow…..God’s timing! Much faith, LaDonna
I was in the Chiropractors office yesterday morning when a small older lady came around the corner to sit down. She was slightly bent over and gingerly taking small steps in which I could feel her pain. As she sat there, I noticed how tired she seemed and her spirit just seemed to say “is this all I have now?” As I was called to go into the treatment room and started to pass by her, I stopped and bent down to her to tell her I hoped she started feeling better soon. She was a bit confused as to what I was saying so I held her hand and told her again I hope she felt better soon. She gave me a lovely smile and her eyes softened. As I was leaving my appointment I saw her going into the treatment room. She seemed to have a different mood about her, maybe a little more hope. She still had a little bit of her lovely smile. I prayed that God be with her as I left. ❤️
Sharon,
I want to thank you for continuing to send devotionals. I appreciate your encouragement. It sometimes comes at precisely the right moment! God knows.
God bless you.
Linda
Author
Thank you!
As an 80 year old woman looks back at her 14 year old self, I remember Miss Allerdice, my dance instructor. She told me my hair was beautiful…a young girl who had never been told she was anything…. Still remembers. It has allowed me to spend a lifetime seeking to do that for others. Thank you for all you do and share and teach.
Author
Amazing.
❤️
Wow…such a good wake up call/reminder! Thank you
Beautiful illustration of the power of our words. You watered her spirit with your kindness
This challenged me deeply. Thank you.
Thank you Sharon for sharing beautiful thoughts of love, that we can pass on in our daily walks and care this week
Blessings 🙏and Love 💕
Veronica 🦋🦋🦋🌈🌈🌈
Sharon,
Such a beautiful message and reminder to each of us the power of our words to uplift and encourage others. I believe my gift is to encourage others but I need to be more consistent and vigilant since there are so many hurting people. Thank you for blessing us and sharing your gift to encourage and empower women!!
Author
Thank you!
I remember a high school guidance councilor giving me that same encouragement with just a few words. To this day it still matters and has sparked my heart to encourage others. You’ve got this and you’re not alone. ICU/I see you is critical.
Author
So sweet.
My sweet mother gives me words of encouragement all the time. She has always, all my life & I’m so very Blessed to have her as my biggest cheerleader in life! Thanks mom for always making me feel very extra special in this world. I love you! 🙏🏾❤️
Author
😊
For Mother’s Day, my grandson sent me a text that simply said “Happy Mother’s Day!!! I Love you, one of my best friends my Grandma and my inspiration”. I smiled all day😊
Author
Beautiful!
This was so beautiful!
As a gal who never had the best relationship with her mom it always means a little something extra when another woman gives me a compliment or a word of praise. One particular day as I was entering a building the receptionist sitting in the foyer said what beautiful green eyes I had. One statement from a stranger made my whole day lol!! Lord may I be that woman to others , who just may need a little therapy for whatever reason.
Author
Love it!
Wow! I love this, Tammy! I’m sure your beautiful green eyes were sparkling the rest of that day!
Thank you, Sharon, for these devotionals!! This one especially hit home! I try to encourage others as much as I can. So many women I know have had illnesses, losses, hurts & setbacks. We all need to encourage one another as often as we can.
Thank you, again!!
Thank you so much. While I try to always speak kind words, I’m constantly being confronted with ladies within my group who love to tear me down.
Just not right. It destroys my peace.
Thank you for this 🙏👏🏼
Thank you for this message today!
I pray to God for a kind heart, to give a kind word, and for a kind attitude!
This has been my mantra for many years! Thank you Jesus for all the kind words anyone has ever spoken to me ✝️❤️
My daughter and I are traveling this summer and will be in Rome/Pisa. Maybe we will see her there. It’s amazing what a kind word or look will do for someone’s spirits. You made her day!
Always love your devotion. I was the recipient of some kinds words this morning from someone that I met on my 3 mile walk. Definitely changed my day! Now I need to do the same to someone else.
I go to a local ALF where many of the residents have some sort of dementia, among other problems. Most of them have family that live locally and some of them visit regularly. Many. Most. Some. Odd words, indeed, when taken together in this context. This past Sunday morning, I shared with them the reason that I use “Sprinkling Joy” as my silly (to me) slogan. I also shared a devotion with them about passing on positive words to others. Those positive words can be a simple, “Thank You!” When our sixty-minute-half-hour time was finished, a different group of people was present in the room from the group that gathered earlier. Not only were they encouraged through the conversation we had together but also by the hymns we sang. They dearly LOVE to sing the old hymns! They also had a purpose in their hearts and that was to be an encourager to those right around them. They still have a pulse so they still have a purpose. Encouraging others might not sound all grand and glorious like some of the “other” gifts but, to these friends, it was like giving them a brick of gold. Or chocolate. I just had to share this with y’all. Yesterday, we had our weekly “choir” rehearsal. I even noticed a change in their spirits a day later! Thanks for letting me share and to “Sprinkle Joy” a little bit here.
Thank you for this valuable and simple reminder. You book is helping me understand the power in a woman’s words which can make someone’s day sweeter. Highly recommend it.
Beautiful words from a beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing.
Sharon, I’m just a older man,
But I have been listening to your devotions and kindness for several years now and they all touch my heart in some way or the other and I try and pass them on to my daughters.
You do have such a special beauty with your stories and words and I am Thankful for You !
Author
Thank you so much!