The Valentines We Keep
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, make me a person whose words are worth keeping. Let my speech be so filled with Your love that it becomes a treasure others hold onto long after I've spoken.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus while imprisoned in Rome. The Greek word for "unwholesome" (sapros) literally means "rotten" or "decayed"—the kind of fruit you'd throw away. Paul is saying our words should be the opposite: fresh, nourishing, and beneficial. They should meet people's needs and build them up. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Pastor Todd Carter ended his message with a tender story. A few months before, the church staff had done an exercise around Valentine's Day where they wrote notes of encouragement to each other... little valentines. And here's what struck him: months later, he still had his. And he noticed other staff members still had theirs on their desks too. Why? Because words are powerful.
This simple observation carries profound truth. We keep the words that give us life. We hold onto the notes, the texts, the voicemails that remind us we're loved, we're seen, we're valued. We return to them when we're discouraged. We read them when we doubt ourselves. They become anchors in the storm. And the inverse is also true—we carry the hurtful words too, sometimes for decades, like stones in our pockets weighing us down.
Todd's final challenge was this: if we're going to be the community of people God wants us to be, if we're going to accomplish the mission we're on together, we must learn to use our words for good and not for harm. To encourage each other, not hurt each other. To build each other up so we can make a difference in this world. This isn't just about being nice. It's about being effective. It's about creating a culture where people flourish because the words spoken over them are life-giving.
Think about the people in your life right now. Your spouse. Your children. Your coworkers. Your friends. What words are you giving them to keep? What are you writing on their hearts that they'll carry with them? Are you creating valentines they'll treasure, or wounds they'll nurse? The choice is yours, every single day, with every single conversation.
APPLY:
Here's your final challenge for this week: Write a note—an actual, physical note—to someone in your life. Not an email. Not a text. A handwritten note. Tell them specifically what you appreciate about them, how they've impacted your life, or what you see in them that's beautiful and true. Make it something they'll want to keep. Then give it to them and watch what happens. Better yet, make this a regular practice. Become someone who leaves a trail of valentines wherever you go.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will speak life-giving words to someone I've hurt.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, thank You for the words You've spoken over me—words of love, forgiveness, and purpose. Help me to be as generous with my words as You have been with Yours. Let my speech be a gift that people treasure, a blessing they carry, and a reminder of Your goodness. May my words build Your kingdom and point others to You.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.