Hey, Carpool Crew! Happy Labor Day! No school today, and welcome to week two of Proverbs for Your School Life. This whole week is about words. And today we're talking about that moment at the cookout when your cousin misses the cornhole board six times in a row, and the perfect joke is sitting right there on your tongue. I'm Pastor Justin, and before we jump in, let me give a big shout-out to Landry and Sutton out in Van Buren, Arkansas. Landry and Sutton, I'm so glad you're riding with us on your day off. And this episode is all about what your words do to the people around you. We've all let one fly. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride: build with your words, don't bulldoze. Listen to this from Proverbs 18:21. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Solomon isn't being dramatic. He's saying your words land on people like something real. Because they are something real. Think of every sentence you say like a brick in your hands. Same brick, two jobs. You can stack it into a fort somebody gets to stand on, or you can put it through a window. Solomon watched kings start wars with one sentence and cool them down with one too. Every sentence you say today lands on somebody. It builds a little, or it bulldozes a little. If Jesus were sitting next to you at the picnic table today, He would say, "I know the joke is right there. I made you funny. Make your cousin laugh with you, not at him. See what your words can build by dinner." It's Labor Day afternoon in the backyard. Your cousin steps up to the cornhole board and misses. Six times. In a row. Everybody's half watching, and the zinger in your head is honestly pretty good. You swallow it and say, "Toss it lower. You've got this." Next round he sinks one, and the first person he looks at is you. That's what building feels like. So today, here's the one thing you could try. Give one person a real, specific compliment before the day is over. Not "you're nice." Name the thing. Borrow the shape: "That was awesome. Do that again." Anybody can think a compliment and keep it. Saying it out loud is the brick that builds somebody. Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. Build with your words, don't bulldoze. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, real quick, because this week is different. All week long we're unlocking Goodnight Psalms, our bedtime show, free for everybody. One Psalm, a couple of quiet minutes, right before lights out. If you've been wanting to start something new in your home this September, this is about the easiest place to start. Go find Goodnight Psalms tonight. Hey, before you go, let's answer this question together. Who's one person you could build up with your words today, and what would you say? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.
