Words

(For Titus2 Tuesday, I'm linking to an older post from Oct. 2008, about my dear friend, Becky Smith. We've become not just blog buddies, but real life friends, and I love her heart. When you read this post, you'll understand at least a little of what I've learned from her. And I just KEEP learning, almost every day. Apr. 7, 2009)

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Instead of trying to find some wisdom within myself, today I wanted to post an excerpt from a Caringbridge site that I have followed for over 2 years. Sweet, beautiful Sarah Smith was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at age 6; she relapsed in 2006 at age 10. She is now a very gorgeous teen princess with a heart of gold. Her mom Becky has had more than her share of trials, but she truly praises God in each storm, and I just wish that she lived close enough for me to give her daily hugs (and to sit at the kitchen table with a cup of tea for a long chat...).
Today, Becky's post was about words and the power they contain. During this contentious election season (which has gone on for .. how long? years, or at least it seems....), it seems that the media delights in using words to define and divide us. I don't believe that God's will is for our words to be used that way, and Becky's post presents a challenge that I accept. Not only do I accept it, but I hereby throw the gauntlet down to anyone who reads this post! Read to the end and you'll get it.. and then, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/nc/sarahsmith to leave some kind words there.

From Sarah Smith's Spot, by Becky Smith:

One of the many things I love about words is their amazing power to do good, to lift a person's spirits, and to encourage someone who's going through a hard time. Case in point: Last Sunday at church, I overheard one of Sarah's friends talking about her former third grade teacher. She said, "Mrs. Bailey was thebest teacher ever!" (Sarah had the same teacher and also loved her dearly.)Now most of the time, that comment would have gone in one ear and out the other but this time I thought, "Well, why don't I take the time to pass that along?"When I got home, I emailed Mrs. Bailey and told her what I had overheard and also said how much Sarah had loved having her for a teacher.The next day she wrote back and said, "I just got home from another day of teaching and I was exhausted and discouraged. Your email was exactly the hug from God that I needed today."Now how simple was that? It took me 45 seconds to write that email but it meant the world to a tired teacher.The really cool thing was that the very next day, I got an email from a lady in the class I teach on Wednesday nights. She told me how much she enjoys the class and how much she gets out of being a part of it.I just love it when the cycle of encouragement continues!In the past few months, I have made a conscious effort to notice people at church, to notice what they do well. If they get to church early to help out or stay late to clean up, or if I see someone reach out to a new visitor or take the time to listen to someone who's struggling--I make a point to contact them that week to thank them for what they did.There are so many ugly words in the world, so many ugly words on TV and in the political campaigns and in movies and magazines. There are so many words that tear people down and assinate and undermine and attack. Hearts are ripped apart and families are damaged and spirits are wounded--all because of words.Words ARE powerful. For good AND for evil.And so I invited you to join me in the "Catch Someone Doing Something Right and Comment On It" campaign. Thank that person. Let them know you noticed them making a difference. Watch their faces light up and their shoulders lift. Enjoy making a difference in just one person's life this week. Because what better way to spend your time than to be a "hug from God?