We spoke of the powerful effect of the kind words on our souls and how it can change people’s behavior. The bible says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”Many are the words that have absorbed the animosity caused by harsh words.
A kind word is not the end in itself; however it is the beginning to so many other kind words that draw an endless circle of mutual love between people. The best thing about it is that it changes one’s heart and casts anger that changes people’s good nature.
All religions have agreed on the power of the kind word and how it sows the seeds of peace inside people’s hearts unlike the harsh word that sow the seeds of infuriation.
It came to pass that St. Macarius the Great was leaving the wilderness, the Scetis valley to mountain of Nethera and he asked his disciple to go before him. On the way, the disciple saw a heathen priest carrying some wood and running quickly. He yelled at him saying “Oh! Satan’s servant” the priest went frustrated and beat the disciple to near death. Then St. Macaruis passed by him praising him for his hard work. The priest was deeply moved by St. Macaruis’ words and asked him about the good thing or trait he witnessed to praise him. He told him that he witnessed his hard work and toiling. The heathen priest told him that he was deeply moved by his cheer and praise unlike an evil man who passed by and cursed him. Thus, he beat him to near death. The heathen priest knew God’s love through St. Macaruis’ kind words who was always saying that harsh and haughty words turn the good to evil unlike kind and humble words.
Through Islamic history, there was a story about Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr who owned a farm next to that of Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufian. It came to pass that the laborers at Muwaiyah’s farm trespassed al-Zubayr’s farm. Al-Zubayr was frustrated, as there was a dispute between them, and sent to Muwaiyah a letter about that and saying that” From Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr to Muawiah, it came to pass that your servants trespassed my farm so order them to leave or else!” Muwaiah received the message and asked his son, Yazid, what to do about it. Yazid said, “Send him an army that begins at your place and ends at his and they should bring you his head”. However, Muwaiyah wrote him a letter saying I swear if all the wealth of the world was divided between me and you, I would have left them all to you. If my farm were extended from Al Medina to Damascus, I would have relinquished it. When you receive your message, you may take my whole farm and my whole stuff of laborers, as God’s paradise is in heaven and on earth too. When Ibn Alzubir had read that message, he cried and travelled to Muwaiah to apologize to him.
About kind words, the talk may prolong. However, what is really important about then is that their effect stay in people’s hearts and minds for long. I conclude by these words, “I do not want to move mountains, build memorials, leave money or properties as an inheritance that indicates I was alive, however if my memory leaves a smile on faces and joy in hearts, only then I would be leaving the greatest inheritance as a sign of my existence at this life”
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
