The comparison I'm offering is simple: speaking to people is like a game of Russian Roulette.
In case you are not familiar, Russian roulette is a game of risk in which players pass around a revolver with one bullet in an unknown chamber, place the muzzle against their head, and pull the trigger. You have no way of knowing which shot will be lethal.
Our words hold the same power. We go about every day, saying many comments to many people. Some may border sarcasm or criticism, but we walk away, not thinking much about what was said. And just like in the game, the vast majority of comments may have no deep effect on someone's character or dreams or self-image, but there is that one bullet. To us, it's just another comment, but to someone else, it's the final straw.
Now we have made a deadly mistake.
I lost one of my best friends to suicide a few years ago. It was the most shocking thing I had ever heard, because he just wasn't visibly depressed. He was happy and he was calm. He was heavily involved in church and he was greatly loved by many. No one knew the battle he was fighting internally. We will never know if there was something anyone could have said to stop him, but so often we don't get access to all of the cards in the game of life. We don't get all of the information about what people are dealing with. We only have the hand we are dealt with no idea how it's going to aid or demolish someone else's chances of winning the game.
So, be kind. It takes 10 compliments to counter 1 insult. I'm not saying there aren't times where you don't need to have a hard conversation with someone. You can't be expected to always walk on eggshells, but just be considerate and speak to everyone in the context of love.
May you have a blessed day :)
Laugh. Inspire. Believe. Love.