3 Minute Devotional: The Kindest Word

Welcome to another episode of Hope in Him, hosted by Gary Miller. In this episode, Miller shares an impactful quotation that resonates profoundly with him and might change your perspective on the power of language. The quote, "The kindest word is an unkind word unsaid" suggests the wisdom of exercising restraint and not voicing every unkind thought that crosses our mind.

Miller emphasizes the importance of this principle in our interactions, not just with ourselves, but also with our families, work colleagues, friends, and church community. Too often, thoughtless words can lead to lasting bitterness and resentment. How much better might our relationships be if we refrained from impulsive, hurtful comments?

Comparing unspoken harsh words to bullets that can't be returned to the gun or seeds which once sown can't be retrieved, Miller highlights the irreversible and far-reaching consequences of careless speech. He candidly shares his own experiences with hurtful conversations within the Christian community, challenging the audience to exercise discernment and wisdom before speaking.

This episode invites all listeners to reflect on the power of silence and less speaking in cultivating kindness, and to question the quality of guidance they are receiving if they find themselves frequently speaking unwisely.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Hey there, friends. Welcome back to the show. This is Gary Miller,
and you're listening to Hope in Him today.
In my study yesterday, I came across a quote that really just hit me right in the heart.
I was reading from Dr. Mike Murdoch, but when I went and looked up this quote,
I've seen it attributed to a couple people and also seen it listed as an unknown.

(00:23):
So I'm just going to give a quote and just share a couple thoughts about it
in our quick devotional today. the quote is, the kindest word is an unkind word unsaid.
Have you ever heard that before? I'd never heard that until yesterday.
The kindest word is an unkind word unsaid.

(00:44):
If you and I could manage to not blurt out every unkind thing that we feel like
or think we need to say in doing so,
And in pausing and not saying it,
we are actually being incredibly kind.

(01:05):
This applies to ourselves, and it certainly applies to other people.
Again, we work out through those spheres, right, those circles.
So it starts with us and then our family and then our work people that we,
you know, kind of interact with, friends, and on out through the sphere,
your fellow church attendees, you name it.
I think sometimes we would be the smartest person in the room if we would recognize

(01:30):
the value of pausing long enough to realize that we don't need and probably
shouldn't say everything that we're thinking.
You and I are under no obligation to say everything that we're thinking.
You know, when I think about it in the spiritual context, I've in the last handful

(01:53):
of years, I've had more wrong thoughts.
Uncomfortable interactions with fellow Christians than my previous entire time
on this Christian team, if you will, to include my time in ministry.
I've had very strange and just uncomfortable and unnecessary things have been said to me.

(02:20):
And those things, while they were said in a moment, that, listen,
you put that, what is it? You can't put the bullet back in the gun, right?
You can't pull that seed back out of the ground. Now it's planted and it's brought
about a harvest of resentment and bitterness.
And I tell you, there are people that I wouldn't, they'd walk past me on the street right now.
I mean, if they were in obvious need, I would help, but otherwise I'd walk right

(02:44):
past them and not say a word to them because of some of the dumb stuff they've
said to me, Christian people, people in the church.
And all could be avoided if we just wouldn't say everything that's on our mind.
Even if we think we're right, or even if we think we've got all the facts,
or even if we've got everything, friends, you and I would be the smartest person
in the room if we would just be silent.

(03:06):
Because that shows we have some discernment and we actually have some wisdom
and we actually have the ability to discern difference.
I get concerned when you talk about how important the Holy Ghost is in your
life, yet you specialize in saying dumb and weird things.
If you specialize in saying dumb and weird things, you certainly aren't led of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Let's give this quote some thought. The kindest word is an unkind word, unsaid.

(03:31):
I wonder how kind we would be today, could be today, if we just said less or
said nothing at all. I'll see you next time.