Proverbs 12:25:  “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

“How are you?” you ask.

“Fine,” your friend says.  “Good.”

This is an automatic response.  Most of us never think to say anything else.  How often do we say this when it’s untrue?  Most of the time?  How many of us say the truth when asked.  “Ya know, today has been one of the worst of my life.  All these things happened….”

No, we bottle this up, especially to strangers.

My challenge for you today is to say something kind to everyone you meet, run into, or have a conversation with. Compliment their clothes, hair, smile, laugh.  Thank them for holding the door.  Encourage them if they look glum. Smile.  Be cheerful.  Be warm.  Be happy.

Because odds are that person is anxious about something and will never tell you.  But your little extra effort will go a long way to easing their path.