The Power of Kind Words

All too many time throughout the day we hear negative comments, think negative thoughts, or someone is particularly rude to us. Many times among the negativity people throw in some type of kind words, prayers, and/or random acts of kindness. So why are the negative words and comments so much louder than the encouraging words? Is it because we have come so accustomed to hearing them or constantly telling ourselves that we are not good enough?



I don't have the answer to either question for anyone other than for myself. The reason I hear negatively more loudly than encouraging words is because I am not good at taking compliments. This is something that drives Brent crazy. When he offers a compliment like, " You look very nice today," I usually pick out something that is wrong with me and dwell on it. His response is usually, "Can you ever just say thank you?" My honest answer is that I have always been taught to be modest and humble. I've always felt funny to commend myself or "brag." However, that's not the whole reason for accepting negativity. My biggest problem is that I am my own worst critict. I expect near perfection out of myself in every aspect of my life. Well, I'm not perfect, and I'm not great at everything I do. So as you can guess, I get disappointed quite a bit! From this day forward, I'm going to be cognizant of simply accepting compliments, and I am going to work on accepting my best, even if I fail. I know that I have friends, family, and most of all a God who loves me unconditionally to help me along the way.



However, we will all still have days when we are "down in the dumps". On those days isn't it great how someone meets us on our path and offers a kind word or gesture? I think it's amazing how God always has perfect timing for encountering those people. Kind words go a long way, and we all need them now and again. Everyone likes a pat on the back right? It's nice to know when you are doing things right. People need to feel loved, appreciated, and valued, and it's important that we share openly how much we appreciate and love one another. The metaphore in Proverbs 16: 24 says it perfectly, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."



My husband is reading The Love Dare in an effort to strengthen and improve our marriage. He has been helping out more around the house, with Camryn, and spending more "quality time" with me. I woke up this morning, and went into the bathroom to shower only to find a sweet note written on the mirror. The note read...



Morning Love,

Just wanted to give you a little something that reminds you of how much I love you. Thank you for being such a beautiful person inside and out. I hope you have a great day.

Love,

Mr. Brent Johnson





It was short and sweet, but it made my day. It made me feel appreciated, loved, and beautiful. It gave me strength and confidence, which ultimately set the tone for my entire day. Thank you Brent for being such a thoughtful, loving, and determined husband and father. I love you to the moon and back twice!



So ask yourself this question...Do you want the power to improve someone's day, give him/her confidence, make him/her feel loved and appreciated? You have it, and it's right on the tip of your tongue. How about you take this challenge....instead of using your tongue to relay the negative, why don't you use the powerof your tongue to make someone's day as opposed to breaking it? Offer a kind word whenever you see the opportunity, especially when you see that someone is hearing and feeling the negativity that world so readily offers! Will you take my dare?

What's Your Dream?

I went to church this morning early for praise team practice. We practiced, and we were ahead of schedule so it left a little more time for praise and devotional time. Deanna brought an amazing devotion this morning. She passed around index cards and asked us to write down our biggest dream. I sat, and sat for a long while and tried to think of something I longed for that I did not have. That's when it hit me. I am so very blessed, and God has given me so much to be thankful for! The dream I wrote on that card was what I thought my biggest dream that right now seemed pretty impossible. My dream is to have a house full of children who know and love Jesus.
However through the course of Mike's message and some things that happend after church really showed me a bigger dream that has to become a reality before the dream I wrote is going to happen. I'm praying that God will move mountains, and that both of my dreams will become reality. I know that God wants the best for his children, and He wants to give them the desires of their hearts. Because I am His, I have the right to dream big and believe that NOTHING is too big for God. All things are possible through Christ!
The intention of this post was to say that I am extremely blessed to be able to serve such an amazing God who has blessed my life so abundantly. I have the best job in the world, and I love what I do. He took an insecurity (moving to kindergarten from first grade), which I was pretty confident I could not do, and He showed me that this is my calling. I love going to work each day, and giving five year olds their first impression of school. I pray each day that I will give them exactly what they need...whether it be knowledge, love, a kind word, affirmation, nourishment, etc. I consider it a priviledge to be a teacher. I also got the opportunity to join the praise band at our church last Easter. I love to sing, and I know that I am not the most talented. I felt compelled to use my talent to further God's kingdom. Deanna invited me to join last Easter, and standing up there singing with these amazing people gives me an unexplainable joy. I'm living my dream and purpose in life, but God is using "storms" to teach me and ultimately mold me into who He desires for me to be.
Thank you Jesus for paying the price for my sins so that I may spend an enternity in heaven! I pray that I am good steward with the blessings you have given me and use them to your glory.