Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. (Proverbs 25:11 New American Standard Bible)
Gentle words comfort, calm, encourage, heal, and inspire. They bring solitude and peace to a troubled friend or a nearby stranger who hears the conversation.
Harsh words carelessly spoken seem to travel at full speed. They may irritate, provoke discord, damage reputations, or destroy confidence of the recipient and all who hear the conversation. Once spoken, inconsiderate words are like weapons, piercing the heart and soul with deep injuries that heal slowly.
Avoid harsh words that paint an unpleasant canvas. Choose soft words to produce apples of gold framed in silver.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I hear so many destructive words in everyday conversations. Offensive words pouring from careless tongues overpower gentle words. Help me concentrate on the positive by showing kindness in my conversations. I want to produce long-remembered pictures of gold so my words will glisten in settings of silver. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
From In the Right Place: A Gallery of Treasured Moments © 2006, Violet Carr Moore