Hey, Carpool Crew! Happy Friday, day eleven of Proverbs for Your School Life. And today we're talking about that kid you saw this week... sitting on the wall at recess, staring at his shoes, carrying something heavy that nobody can see. I'm Pastor Justin, and before we jump in, let me give a big shout-out to Jaylen, Azriel, David, Sky, and Jordan out in Providence, Rhode Island. Jaylen, Azriel, David, Sky, and Jordan, five of you in one carpool, and you make videos together too. That is a full crew. So glad you made it to Friday with us. And this episode is all about what one kind word can do. We've all needed one. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride: a kind word can turn somebody's day. Listen to this from Proverbs 12:25. "Anxiety in a person's heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up." Anxiety is a fancy word for worry. Solomon says worry is heavy. It's a backpack nobody can see, and some kid near you is wearing one right now. You can't take the worry out of somebody's invisible backpack. But one good word makes it lighter to carry. A blind man once shouted for Jesus from the side of the road, and the crowd told him to be quiet. Jesus stopped the whole parade and called him over. If Jesus were standing next to you at recess, He would say, "See that kid on the wall? I see what he's carrying this week. Take him one good word for Me." It's Friday at recess. That kid is on the wall again, hood up, staring at his shoes. You walk over, not with a speech, just one true sentence. "Hey, you're the best drawer in our class. That comic you made was awesome." Maybe he lights up. Maybe he just says thanks and looks back down. You didn't fix his week. You made it lighter. So today, here's the one thing you could try. Find the kid who looks down and hand them one encouraging sentence. Make it specific and true. Borrow the shape of it: "Hey, you're really good at that. I've seen it." Anybody can notice a kid having a rough day. Walking over with one good word is the move that changes it. Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. A kind word can turn somebody's day. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, real quick. All week you've had Goodnight Psalms for free, so now you know exactly what it is. That show is normally part of Carpooling with Jesus+. Here's what's next. This Saturday on Carpooling with Jesus+, we're talking about the friend worth keeping, the one who tells you the truth, from Proverbs 27:9. And Sunday is Grandparents Day, and we've got a special one: why Proverbs says you are your grandparents' crown. For less than a snack stop on the way home, your kids keep Goodnight Psalms every night and get the whole weekend of Proverbs for Your School Life too. Subscribe right from the app you're already listening on. *(APPLE VERSION ONLY, swap for the snack-stop line above: "For less than a snack stop on the way home, your kids keep Goodnight Psalms every night and get the whole weekend of Proverbs for Your School Life too. And in Apple Podcasts you can take the whole year for $34.99. You just spent a week finding out what it's worth. That's about three months free.")* Hey, before you go, let's answer this question together. Who's one kid who looked down this week, and what good word could you bring them? I'll see you tomorrow or next Monday on Carpooling with Jesus.
