One day in a Barnes and Noble Book store I was reminded of the powerful impact of encouraging words.

29 Let no [a]unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word is good for edification [b]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians4:29-30

Today, I was reminded about the powerful impact that words can have on someone. A friend of mine, who I haven't seen for a while, shared with me that he still remembers the encouraging word I shared with him in church 20 years ago. I had forgotten those words, but over the last 20 years those words of encouragement kept being recalled over the course of his life.

Facebook is filled with unwholesome talk that does nothing more but tear the people who read them down. Cyber bullying does the same thing when the bullying strikes at their core value of who they are as a person; sometimes pushing people over the edge, sometimes a tragic end.

The holidays are often a stressful time for many people. Pressure to try to duplicate how mom and dad did Christmas comes into our consciousness as we rush to finish our Christmas shopping, planning the Christmas meal, and sending out the invites. We often become disillusioned when some invitations are turned down. The more I get to really know people I have concluded that life is filled with very wounded people. People who's armor has been chinked by a course unkind words, critical judgments that through time has left them emotionally defeated.

Just as a kind word is recalled over and over again in a person's life, an unkind word can remain in the consciousness of a person who grew up in a family where the hearing of such words was an everyday occurrence almost as if they were in a war.

The tongue can be used as a tool for building up someone and it can be used as weapon to destroy that same person. As you go about the holiday season and beyond remember to always think of words that will encourage people and that if there are wounded people in your life remember that it will take time for them to respond to your kind words. 

Remember that the holiday season isn't about us and our needs. It is in remembering that over two thousand years ago God sent to a hurting world through a virgin birth our redeemer who through time has restored and healed generations of wounded people.

Finally, it is up to God on his own timetable to bring healing and ultimate restoration to lives of wounded people, but it will be your words of encouragement, as well as others, that will enable God to heal them.

We, indeed, have an awesome God.