Proverbs tells us that words are sweetness to the soul, but for this to be true our words need to be gracious. Bitter or hurtful words have quite the opposite effect, and harm the spirit of both the person who utters them and the one to whom they are directed. We know that hurtful words generate hatred and anxiety, and we know that these two negative feelings not only harm our bodies and mental health, but our spiritual well-being as well. So how do we receive the words of others, and deliver, or respond to them with our own?