There are some stories that you never forget.

A friend recently shared an interaction she had with her son over 25 years ago.

Her child was only 5 years old, when she turned to him and said, “You are priceless!”

He looked at her and said nothing.

A few days later, she overheard a conversation between her son and his friend.

“My mom called me a baby,” her son’s friend said.

“That’s nothing, my mom said I’m worthless!”

She quickly interrupted and assured her son that she would never say that.

“But you said I’m priceless and that means worthless.”

A quick vocabulary lesson ensued, and the son walked away realizing how much his mother loved and valued him.

The childhood chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is far from the truth.

Words can hurt. And while my friend was able to correct a misunderstanding, some people are walking around wounded by words of rejection.

I like the Message translation of Proverbs 18:21, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit — you choose.”

Today, and every day, we will make the choice to speak words that are encouraging, life-giving and kind, or words that tear down, deflate and discourage. I want to choose wisely.

We are writing stories in people’s lives that they will never forget.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.