Pure Cane Sugar

The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Good sense is sa fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (Proverbs 16:21-24 ESV).

 

The history of Dublin Bottling Works begins in 1891, but the real story begins a few years earlier and 40 miles to the southeast of where I live now. In 1885, the wild frontier town of Waco, Texas, was nicknamed “six-shooter junction.” Wade Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store was a prominent business and popular meeting place in downtown Waco. People came in for everything from flea powder to stationery, from cigars to fountain drinks. One of Morrison’s employees, pharmacist Charles Alderton, noticed how customers loved the smell of the soda fountain with its many fruit, spice and berry aromas. He wanted to invent a drink that tasted the wonderful way the soda fountain smelled. After much experimentation he finally felt he had hit on “something different.” Patrons at the drug store agreed. Soon other soda fountains were buying the syrup from Morrison and serving it. People loved the new unnamed drink and would order it by simply calling out “shoot me a Waco!” But Morrison named it Dr Pepper, after the father of a girl he had loved back in his home state of Virginia. Over the years, Dublin Bottling Works became known for the Kloster family’s commitment to friendly service and quality products, including the distinctive taste of what came to be called “Dublin Dr Pepper” and a host of other fantastic sodas, all made with pure cane sugar. Although Dublin Bottling Works no longer produces Dr Pepper, they do produce a variety of Craft Sodas. And, they are wonderful!

 

Our reading today is from the Wisdom of Solomon. Here he writes that “gracious words are like a honeycomb” (v. 24). In my paraphrase it would go something like “kind words are like Dublin Sodas”! Seriously, isn’t it easier to be kind and gracious than harsh and unforgiving? This New Year gives us all an opportunity to think more about what we say and when we say it. I am not advocating for silence in view of the unjust and wrong of our world. I am advocating using liberal amounts of pure cane sugar to “make the medicine go down.” See if it won’t produce better results for you as the days wear on.