Words

I love to organize.  I have always found the process of bringing order to chaos refreshing and creating greater functionality within a given space is something I really enjoy.  A few weeks ago I found myself with a quiet afternoon on my hands so I headed into our office/spare bedroom to peek inside the closet.  I had barely touched its contents since we moved into our house almost a year ago and I knew it was time to evaluate what was being stored there.  I had almost no memory of what I had carefully tucked away so you can imagine my delight when I ran across the bundle of cards people had given us at our wedding.  I remember carefully saving each card because the words our friends and family took the time to write to us were deeply life giving.  I wanted to hold onto each word of congratulations and preserve them so that I could be encouraged by the cards all over again.   As I sat on the cool carpet in the back of the house, surrounded by notes of well-wishes, I was thankful for every word that read as vibrantly as it had on my wedding day.  

As I experienced the richness of the love other people have for us all over again, I was reminded by how powerful words are.  Each word I speak has the power to build someone up or tear someone down.  I can choose to use my words to rejoice or to complain.  I can be discerning in what I say or I can be reckless.  Words matter.  My words matter.  

God is teaching me how to use my words in ways that give life to others.  The lesson is big and I've already made plenty of mis-steps along the way, but I've learned that in and of myself I have very few good things to say without God's help.  I believe that when kind words are spoken to others they can continue to bless them long after the words were shared. Its kind of like finding encouragement in a wedding card neatly organized an in a box in a closet.  Words matter.  Your words matter. 

Love, 

Erica