The skatepark was pretty empty but a few young kids were cautiously rolling around the ramps. It would be easy to just stay in my own lane, quitely focused on my own line of tricks I was trying to string together. I know the skatepark can feel like a pretty intimidating space. I have noticed many kids at the skatepark will beat themselves up after each failed attempt at landing their trick.
That morning I read Proverbs 10:11, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of the life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” And just ten verses later it says, “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment” (Proverbs 10:21). It got me thinking… Do my lips provide nourishment to others? Is my mouth a refreshing fountain of life?
I decided to skate over and offer some encouragement to one of the kids at the skatepark. Just a simple, “Hey nice job bro!” and suddenly this kid was my best friend for the rest of the session. His confidence grew and his spirit went from nervous to joyful. Later his mom pulled me aside and said, “Thank you for befriending my son.”
Who is eating your words?
How could you nourish or refresh someone’s heart today with your words?
What will you say to build them up?
