“Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Prov. 25:11; NASB)
It was supposed to be a simple fencing project. Buy a few panels, take the old ones down, put the new ones up. Real easy. And real unrealistic. It evolved into one of my typical projects, one that is certainly do-able, it just needs twice as much money and three times as much time.
But at the end of a long day, as my wife was helping me haul one of the last old panels out of the way, she said, “Bob Villa doesn’t have anything on you!”
A simple, gracious, well-timed word not only energized me for more hours of labor, but also encouraged my heart. I know my home-improvement hero has much that I don’t (like tools, time, budgets and “know how” — other than that, my wife was right!), but with that simple word my wife affirmed her love for and confidence in me.
That’s what words are designed by God to do. The deceiver has twisted the purpose of words so that all too often words are used to confuse, mislead, degrade and discourage. God’s intent was that words should support, encourage, correct, guide and love. And the wonder of using words God’s way is that when they are used at the right time with the right demeanor, you can say virtually anything to anyone without offense (Prov. 27:6).
Lesson for the day? Choosing to use a soft tongue, an encouraging word or a gentle answer will never be cause for regret.
Words of Grace 
This is a skill I desperately need. My comment would have been more like “Tim the tool man is almost as good as you” or something equally stupid. Thank God for a wife who doesn’t overreact!!