English
EspañolBetween those who love each other, praise is sunshine that illuminates shadows, rain that greens the parched, breeze that caresses with tenderness and softens the heart. How sweet are the compliments between spouses, how stimulating the words of encouragement from parents to children, how good are the gestures of gratitude and the words of recognition in the home!
Text
“Those who love are capable of speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation, and encouragement.” (The Joy of Love, n.100)
Commentary
A common way of expressing love is through gestures and words. We have all experienced at one time or another how a kind word can cheer us up all day long, and, on the contrary, a coarse word or an unkind remark can bring our spirits to the ground. He who truly loves does not have a mouth ready to say things that hurt. He who is in the habit of stabbing, who has no loved ones but enemies, does not love but hates.
Sometimes in the family, it can occur that among siblings, we lose the habit of saying nice things to each other and being kind to one another, even turning arguments and quarrels into a daily occurrence. Some spouses never say nice things to each other. If they converse, it is to utter reproaches, thus killing their love for one another.
However, in order to speak kind words – as I understand it – it is essential to know the whole person. Other people are not only those things they do that annoy us. They are also their good side, their strengths, and their virtues. Suppose one honestly reflects on their life. In that case, one soon discovers how encouraging it is to be appreciated for our qualities instead of being labeled and condemned by continuously reproaching us for our faults. Moreover, the more they encourage us, the more they give us the desire and strength to correct our defects. It is essential to look at each other positively in family relationships, focusing much less on the negative aspects. This way, a word of encouragement, appreciation, and recognition will come more naturally and more frequently, which will make the day–to–day living together more pleasant.
