A Word Aptly Spoken

A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold
in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11

The quiet words of the wise
are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Ecclesiastes 9:17

How often do I speak without thinking? Sometimes while simply having a general conversation with someone, nothing important, nothing major. To me, that is. Sometimes my words have effects I do not know about until sometime later.

I pray that these are mostly good effects and not bad ones!!

One of the first days I was in the rehab section of the hospital after my knee surgery, I had a conversation with one of the CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistant). It was just a general conversation on both of our parts. I was a new patient to her and to me she was a great help, especially during the night time hours.

I asked her if she was a nurse because I really didn't know, and she responded that no, she was a CNA.

I told her then that my youngest sister is an RN (Registered Nurse) and that she had told me more than once how important the CNAs are that she works with, that she would not be able to do her job nearly as well without their help, and that it is always a much more difficult night for her when one of them is out for any reason.

This young woman then told me that she really wanted to go to nursing school but that there was a long wait for admittance (I don't know if this is country-wide or just in that area). I again responded, really without thinking about it much at all. I told her not to give up, to follow her dream, that if she really wanted to be a nurse she should go for it!

She soon left and I totally forgot the conversation - for a few weeks.

Very early the morning I was discharged, this same young woman was on shift again and had come in to help the woman in the bed next to me. After she finished, she came over on my side of the dividing curtain and whispered:

"Are you awake?"
"Yes, I am."

She came in, leaned down over the bed and gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear:
"We don't know why things work out the way they do, but I am so very glad that you were here right now. Thank you!"

I was flabbergasted. I hugged her back and said thank you back, she left and I just half sat, half lay there and wondered why in the world she had done and said that!

It wasn't until I had been home for two or three weeks that I remembered our conversation on the first day we met. This is the only thing I could think of. I hope and pray that she will follow her dream. I will not soon forget this young woman, now. She is in my prayers, even though I most likely will never meet her again.

Words are often spoken without thought. Words can hurt, words can heal. Words can encourage or they can discourage.

How careful we need to be with our tongues! Speaking words thoughtfully and carefully, even in general conversations.