Words That Come from the Heart
Words that do not become flesh in us remain “just words”. They have no power to affect our lives. If someone says, “love you,” without meaning it, such words do more harm than good. But if these same words are spoken from the heart, they can create new life.
It is important that we keep in touch with the source of our words. Our great temptation is to become “pleasers”, people who say the right words to please others but whose words have no roots in their interior lives. We have to keep making sure our words are rooted in our hearts. The best way to do that is in prayerful silence.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
Words have the power to heal, encourage, and even change lives—but only when they’re real. Henri Nouwen reminds us that words without heart are just noise. We’ve all felt the sting of empty words—when someone says “I love you” or “I’m here for you” and doesn’t mean it. But when those same words come from a place of sincerity and connection, they carry the power to breathe life into our souls.
In recovery, we’re learning not just to speak truth, but to live it. That means slowing down, getting honest, and letting our words rise from a deeper place—where we’ve spent time in silence, in prayer, in connection with God. When our words are rooted in our hearts, not just our habits, they begin to carry weight—not because they’re perfect, but because they’re real. So speak less if you need to. Listen more. And when you do speak, let it come from a place of love that’s been shaped in the quiet with God. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics