The Words We Speak Could Be the Last Words Someone Hears

Words carry power.

They can build someone up, offer comfort, and bring joy. But they can also wound, tear someone down, and linger in ways we never intended. Every day, we speak without knowing if the words we choose will be the last ones someone hears from us—or the last they hear, period.

Life is unpredictable.

We assume we will have another conversation, another chance to explain, apologize, or say what we really mean. We assume there will be time to turn frustration into forgiveness or replace sharp words with softer ones. But sometimes, we don’t get that chance. Sometimes, the last words we say to someone become permanent, etched into their hearts and memories forever.

I have seen firsthand the way words can shape someone’s life. A moment of kindness, a gentle reminder that they matter, can be the light that carries them through a dark day. But I have also seen how cruel words, spoken in anger or carelessness, can leave wounds that never fully heal. Words don’t disappear once they leave our lips—they echo in the minds of those who hear them. And sometimes, they echo far longer than we realize, lingering in a person’s heart long after we have moved on.

Think about the last conversation you had with a loved one, a friend, or even a stranger. If it were the last conversation you ever had, would you be at peace with the words you spoke? Would they carry love, or would they carry regret? Would they be a source of comfort or a weight on someone’s soul?

We are all human.

We get frustrated, we get tired, we react in ways we wish we hadn’t. But we also have the power to pause, to think before we speak, to choose words that reflect love rather than hurt. Our words should be reminders of how much we care, not something someone has to recover from. We never know the battles someone else is fighting, and sometimes, a single kind word can be the thing that keeps them going.

So today, I encourage you to be intentional with what you say. Tell the people in your life that they matter. Offer words of kindness, even in small moments. And if anger rises, take a breath before you speak. The words we choose may be the last ones someone carries with them. Let them be words worth remembering. Because in the end, our words can either be a gift or a scar. Choose the gift.

Take care of yourself, and be kind to others.