There is a small community next to the neighborhood where I grew up that, to this day, is still known as “Who’d-a Thought-It.” The story was that someone was traveling the road from the city one day and discovered that a home had been built in this new, somewhat isolated area, and exclaimed, “Well, who’d-a thought it!” I assume that the story is true as the name has been used by people for many years and it’s the only explanation I’ve ever heard.

All of us have those “who’d-a thought it” moments in life. I had one recently when I received a note from a happy bride of one year. She wrote to say, once again, how much she enjoyed the whole wedding experience, how wonderful the first year of marriage had been, and how much the words I spoke in the wedding had meant to her and her husband. Then she told me of a recent discovery. Though the words had been directed toward them, there was another couple attending the wedding that was having a difficult time. Some major health issues and struggles were taking their toll on them and even affecting their relationship. But the words of scripture and encouragement I shared with the bride and groom, though not even meant for this couple, were heard by them as needed words of hope. They latched on to those and left with a new resolve to trust God and renewed hope for their lives and home. And a year later they were able to tell this young bride that God had used her wedding and words spoken to her to renew their love and commitment. Well who’d-a thought it.

You never know who is listening and what God will do with your words. Or, for that matter, what the enemy will do if you are not wise with your words. Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6) And David said, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

Be careful what you say and how you say it. Our words have impact on people – even when we don’t know that they are listening. Who’d-a thought it?