Hey, carpool crew, whether you're munching your favorite breakfast bar on the way to school, or just packing up your pencil case and heading out the door. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. I wanna kick off with a question. Have you ever had someone say something so nice to you that it completely made your day? Like you already were in a good mood, but now you're walking down the hall with that, yep, my life's going really good feeling. Yeah. Now, flip it. Have you ever had someone say something mean, and it stuck with you the whole day, like you're sitting in math class, but you're still thinking about that thing they said at recess or at lunch? Yeah, because words are powerful. They can build someone up like a tower, or it can knock 'em over like a stack of blocks. Today's verse is from Proverbs chapter 16, verse 24. Here's what it says. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and health to the body. See, back in Bible times, honey was the sweetest thing anyone could eat. They didn't have chocolate donuts back then. If they did, it might've been a different story. And the honey wasn't just tasty. It was special. It was valuable because it was hard to get, and people even used it as medicine back then. And that's what words can be like. They can be sweet, they can be valuable, they can be encouraging, and life giving. Proverbs was basically a giant book of wisdom. Most of it was written by King Solomon, one of the wisest people who ever lived. He wrote this stuff to help young people learn how to live a way that honors God. When Solomon compared kind words to honey, he wasn't just talking about being nice, he meant your words can actually help heal people on the inside. They can make someone stronger, not weaker. That's true in the classroom. It's true on your sports teams. It's true in group chats. It's even true with your family at home. What you talk about around the dinner table, what you say before you're going to bed, or when you get up in the morning. See, if Jesus was walking in the school halls with you today, I think he'd say something to you like, be careful with your words. Be careful with your words. They matter way more than you think. Speak kindness, even when you're annoyed or frustrated. Use your voice to show people what my love looks like. Jesus always told the truth, but he didn't use his words to crush people. He used them to lift people up. So how can you do that today? Well, speak encouragement. You did awesome, man. I'm so proud of you, man. Keep going. You're killing it. Those words, those phrases can turn someone's whole day around. Watch the joking stuff, sarcasm, name calling. It might get laughs, but can also sting. Sometimes it stings way more than you realize. And ask yourself, would I want someone to say this to me? And if the answer is no, skip it. Last, say thank you. I know we talk about that a lot on the podcast. Saying thank you is so simple, but it is so meaningful. Gratitude is one of the most powerful things you can give away. It costs nothing. And here's the pro move. Before you say something, pause for two seconds and ask, will this build them up? Or will this tear them down? And usually saying thank you or showing gratitude is something that falls in the will build them up category. Jesus is calling you to really think about how you talk to people. Now listen, you won't get it perfect all the time. Nobody does. Sometimes we all say stuff we wish we could take back. I'm a dad, I'm a pastor, and I still say things to my own kids that I wish I could take back, and I'm sure they say things to me that they wish they could take back, but Jesus is full of grace for me, for them, and for every one of you. He'll help you start again. So today, choose your words that heal, not hurt. Choose words that lift up not crush, and words that make someone feel seen, cared for, and encouraged. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Now, before you go answer this question together, what's one kind thing you can say to someone today that would build them up? I'll see you tomorrow on carpooling with Jesus.
