In 1984 we had small Tupperware cups that our children liked to use. Each child had a favorite color, but often they had to take a second choice while their favorite was in the sink. We had a yellow cup that was left too close to a hot eye on the stove. The side of it softened, melted slightly, and sagged. None of the kids wanted to use the deformed cup. So I started calling it “the magic cup” and everything changed. Everyone wanted to use “the magic cup”. How often do we get something in our heads that is not true? We look on the outside and fail to see the inside. The cup just changed on the outside, but still was useful for its intended purpose. How often do we judge someone by how they look on the outside and not the content of their heart? We had a man at church who had a traumatic brain injury. He slurred his speech and walked with a limp. Church kids were scared of Donnie. But Pastor Stuart had an idea. He gave Donnie a bag of penny candy and began calling him “the Candy Man”. And it stuck! After church services, children would flock to see Donnie, AKA the Candy Man. We can use words to build up, if we use them carefully. Solomon said in Proverbs 18:4, “The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.” Use your words carefully today. Build someone up. You’ll be glad that you did.
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