Words are so powerful! Words can uplift us or hurt us deeply. We can hang onto words of encouragement shared with us by others for weeks or months (I know that I can) and replay hurtful words or messages in our minds for years. Words can often be misunderstood, misinterpreted, or even go unexpressed at all. As a "words of affirmation" girl (my #1 love language) I totally understand how powerful words can be for our good and sometimes not-so-good. I have so often hung onto and deeply cherished a genuine compliment, or an "I love you", or a word of affirmation, and even replayed hurtful words over and over in my head more than I'd ever care to remember. I'm not unfamiliar with the pain that can accompany words unexpressed either. Clearly, what we say and even what we don't say has a big impact on others.
Scripture addresses on many occasions the power of our words and the importance of controlling our tongue. Proverbs 12:18 says, "Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings about healing." Healing. A word that has been such an important part of my life's journey as well as our recent journey. A word that has been in our conversations, in our hearts, in our prayers, even in the songs that I've been singing lately...(around the house, of course :) )
Last Sunday we visited a church. After serving on staff at two different churches the last few years, it was different to be on the other end of things as a first time visitor at a church. After praying about it and even some shed tears on my part, we decided beforehand that it was time to go ahead and introduce James to the church nursery. This church had a children's program that we felt great about with loving volunteers, giving us the opportunity to worship freely without worrying about his safety (a huge relief for me). And although we were ready, he was not. After about 10 or 15 minutes of being in the service, a sweet volunteer came and found me and said, "I think James needs you." This was the same volunteer that put her arms around me earlier that morning and offered up genuine words of encouragement (she herself was a mother of a boy now 16) as tears streamed down my face when I handed him off to the nursery workers and I confessed that "I've never left him with anyone other than family before."
We walked together to pick James up (who was hysterical) and then she escorted us to the "cry room" to watch the rest of the service. She stayed with us for a few minutes and encouraged us...she even let us share "our story" with her and shared some of hers with us. She was a blessing to us, to me especially.
The morning didn't go as we had planned at all, but God ministered to us through that church member in so many ways. We didn't hear much of the service that day but in the midst of talking with her and calming James down, I did hear one thing. In fact, it was the only part of the service I got to hear that day. A familiar song. A song that I sang (around the house) so often the last few months - a song that had spoken to my heart. I smiled when I heard it. A simple reminder of God's love for us. There was a line in the song that had so resonated with me all those months - "now by your grace we stand, healing is in His hands." I offered up a simple prayer thanking God for His grace and for healing to come.
On Friday afternoon James and I went for a walk, and I decided to stop by our mailbox while we were out. There was a card inside. A card from that same sweet volunteer. The card was beautiful and uplifting from start to finish but my favorite part said, "I know you didn't really get a chance to be in worship but one of the songs said 'now by your grace we stand, healing is in your hands.' I wrote that down as I thought of you and Stephen and the journey of healing that you are on -- all the while in His hands. You are so precious to Him and it all matters."
Wow! Powerful words! "It all matters...." How many people need to hear that they matter to God? That He cares about their circumstances? I praise the Lord for this sweet lady, Danette, that allowed God to use her to encourage our family. I pray that I would bless others with my words today and always.
Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings about healing. Proverbs 12:18
And for those of you wondering, we are visiting again tomorrow morning. :)
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