President Calvin Coolidge was famously known as a man of few words. In fact, his nickname was “Silent Cal.” His wife, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, told the story of a young woman who sat next to her husband at a dinner party. The woman told Coolidge she had a bet with a friend that she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her, he quietly retorted, “You lose.” President Coolidge understood very well the value and power of words and used them very wisely.

It is easy to underestimate and overlook the true power of our words, actions and decisions. Yet, our words and decisions impact in some way, first of all, ourselves, then also the people around us and ultimately the world we live in. The Holy Bible starts and finishes with stories about the consequences of a single man’s decisions for the entire humanity. 

Today’s scripture reading from the book of Proverbs elevates this concept to a much higher level by highlighting how our decisions and choices impact God and influence how He feels and what He experiences.

“ My son, if your heart is wise,

    then my heart will be glad indeed;

my inmost being will rejoice

    when your lips speak what is right.”

Proverbs 23:15-16