“She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

And in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Prov. 31:26

I was walking one morning and saw this beautiful camellia tree.  I was struck by it’s beautiful symmetry and the way the pedals had fallen in a perfect circle around the trunk.  For some strange reason, I viewed the pedals as words, kind words and words of wisdom that land on the lives of those around us.

Jesus taught that on the day of judgment, everyone will be held accountable for the idle words we speak and that by our words we will be justified or condemned (Matt. 12:36-37).  That has always been a strong warning to me that we are to be careful about what we say and to be mindful in speaking life and wisdom rather than following along with and contributing to gossip, lies and slanders.  So when I saw this tree I envisioned the pedals as those words that speak good things, encouragement, wisdom and hope and leave a positive mark on the lives to whom and for whom those words were spoken.  The Proverbs woman was known for many positive attributes but I think it is her wisdom that caused the praise of others to fall upon her.  I can imagine that her words were as pleasing as this shower of flower pedals on the ground.  They were as sweet as the scent of flowers.  They were wisdom tempered with kindness making them soft and gentle to the ear and for the eye.

If we could envision what our words would look like to others, would they be like these beautiful flower pedals or would they be dried and crackly leaves?  Would they be soft and gentle or prickly as briars?  This was a moment early in the morning when I was given pause to consider the nature of my words and how they may be perceived.  I’d like to think they are as beautiful as these pedals but I am reminded that I need to be careful with every word that proceeds out of my mouth.  I am also reminded that my words come from the heart and the nature of my words is a reflection of the nature of my heart.  If I want beautiful words I have to have the beauty of God within.  If I want to speak wisdom, I have to have wisdom.  If I want to speak gently, then I need a gentle spirit within.  The power of our pedals (words) is something that can speak life or death and if I expect to speak life, I have to have the life of Christ living on the inside.  That is the power of our pedals (words).