"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue
of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word
in season to him  that is weary..." - Isaiah 50:4

It's kind of interesting.

The hills of Scotland are spotted with piles of rocks  known as "cairns."  According to tradition, in ancient times,  a cairn represented both friendship and enmity.

You see, a man would begin a cairn with just a small  pile of rocks.  Then, those that passed would either add to  the pile, or take away from the pile of rocks.  A friend  would add a rock, while an enemy would remove one.

Some who were passing by the cairn built it up...

...while others tore it down.

You know, as I thought about the cairns of Scotland,  I  realized that every person we meet is kind of like a "cairn."   No, they're not a pile of rocks! ;-)  It's just that their lives  are like cairns in that you and I can either build them up or  tear them down by what we say and do.

That's right.  Our words and deeds have the ability to  "add to" the lives of those we see each day...

...and they also have the ability to "take away" from the  lives of those in our pathway.

Things like gossip, harsh words, sarcasm and criticism  can tear down a person's self esteem and cause hurt  feelings.  While praise, compliments, words of love and  gentle correction can build up those around us.

What kinds of words do we use with those that we see  each day?  Our spouses, children, parents, friends, co- workers, neighbors and family members...

...do we build them up or tear them down?

Are we friendly and considerate to the gas station  attendant, grocery store clerk and those in line around  us at the department store?  Or, do we treat those we  meet with impatience and disrespect?

Today, dear Christian, you and I will see a variety of  people, both acquaintances and strangers.  The question  is,  will we add to their lives...

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!