A mother was reduced to tears by unexpected words from a stranger. A few simple but surprising words were enough to cause this mother to respond with tears. She was obviously taken aback by the message. This is a clip that you will want to watch for sure.

The person who first said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” could not have been more wrong. Yes, sticks and stones, when thrown in our direction, will cause immediate physical pain. But words, contrary to the famous saying, do hurt. They have the power to cause harm and bring about destruction. Also, they can be used for good—to build someone up, motivate and encourage.

The Bible makes the power of words clear in a handful of passages. In Ephesians, Christians are warned against allowing foul or corrupting talk to leave our mouths. Instead, the only words we should say are those that will help build people up and not tear them down. We should always choose our words carefully. Once a word or a phrase leaves our mouth, it’s impossible to put it back in and to have unsaid it.

A short but sweet clip on social media perfectly captures the power of words. A mother discusses what she just encountered on a walk with her children. The incident touched her so much that she was moved to tears when retelling it.

“The sweetest thing just happened,” she said. “I was just finishing my walk, and we were, you know, just pulling down our street, walking down our street, and this old man, he, like, stopped. Cause, you know, got the double-wide stroller, it takes up a whole space. And he goes, ‘Wow, you’re going to have a lot of fun.’”

At this point in the clip, Mom starts to become emotional. A kind and sweet message from a stranger caught her completely off guard.

The words we say matter. A cruel or careless word here or there could significantly impact someone else. That’s why we should always be cautious and exercise discretion when speaking to, about and around others.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.”