Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

I love honey!! It truly is comfort food for me; on toast, pancakes, in recipes and sauces or I can eat a spoonful straight from the jar. Not only does honey have an amazing taste and texture, it also has surprising health benefits. 

According to the Mayo Clinic website; “Honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agency. People commonly use honey to orally treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.” And even if we didn’t have the Mayo clinic and other science experts telling us these things about honey, we just know that honey is good for us. Why? Because our mothers used it as a first defense against disease and ‘ouchies’ in many diverse and creative ways.

What a beautiful picture given to us here in Proverbs 16:24! Just like our moms use of honey in tea when we had a sore throat, lovely words are like honey that sweetens our soul and heals down to our very inner being. I know that when I am sick in my soul that a kindness given in word or deed by a loved one or friend or even a stranger is healing. That healing may be temporary if my hurt is very deep, but the healing is felt just the same. Then another kind word comes my way and more healing takes place. Over time, the wound is healed and only a scab remains. You’ve probably experienced that too and can be thankful for those moments.

Here is a great example from nature’s ‘To Do List’! We need to be the one that gives the pleasant words. The one that looks for opportunity to pour honey into someone’s healing tea, not just once, but as often as God leads us to serve those we love and those that we simply pass by. The cashier at Walmart needs our kind words just as much as our husbands and children. I fail at this miserably! I miss so many opportunities to be healing to someone. I just don’t take the time to notice or if I do notice, I don’t believe the God who wrote Proverbs really means my simple, “Thank you for helping me today” given to a cashier can make a difference in her or his life. I must be more proactive in executing this verse at every opportunity. And it is one item on my ‘To Do List’ that should never be checked off as being done!

I am excited to search for more of nature’s positive examples of what should be on my ‘To Do List’ in life. You can join me for 31 days in doing just that!