the power of words.

It's a truth that we have known our whole lives: words are dangerous. Word usage can transform people's moods in an instant. A carefully placed encouraging compliment, or a snide, undercutting remark; both take a person from where they were currently existing to a whole new realm of feeling. And all entirely out of their control. These unexpected words have a great impact, whether they be given by a loved one or a stranger.

We know this. This is nothing earth shattering. We've all experienced both ends of the spectrum. We know how it feels and can empathize, and yet, in so many situations, it's just too easy to let the words tumble out. Engage before truly weighing out the levity of what is about to spill all over another person, be it good or bad.

And so I challenge myself: why can I be so stingy with my praise and compliments for some people? Or why do I just claim to be "observing" something while I full-well know the damage that even mentioning it is doing to someone? Why do I let myself be such a willy-nilly determinable factor in a person's life; someone who demands respect? When I interact with certain people, sometimes the complementary words just sit on the edge of my lips, my heart and humanity ready to make the jump, but something in me greedily grabs hold of them, hoards them, and won't share them. Why is this? Why such a harsh differentiation between recipients? I could lavish encouragement, love and kind words all the day long to some, and not to others. It makes no sense, and knowing that I do it, and yet, can not seem to fix it, is an unnerving problem. I know the absolute sense of worth that these good words can bring. How completely unfair I can be.

But sometimes, being on the receiving end of non thought-out words leaves an impact greater than the sum of all the well-placed sentiments. I still have sentences echoing around in my head from my youth that someone else didn't think twice about, but have literally scarred me for life. Oh, how we internalize things that are so personal to us. Wouldn't you think the accolades would be the better choice memories to hang on to?

I was recently in emergency for a twisted ankle (silly me rushing down the stairs and falling sideways on a stray toy) and the nurse attending to me made an extremely disparaging remark about the shape of my legs. I felt absolutely humiliated, and immediately felt all hot in the face and ashamed. Three days later, and I would rather have the pain of the twisted ankle be the thing that I continue to carry around with me, than those haunting words of ridicule. I pray to God that I remember, yet again, how it feels to be on this end of a seemingly innocuous remark. Words can haunt people for years, debilitate them, create a looming aura, and we would never be the wiser. Conversely, a well-placed sentiment can rejuvenate, inspire, motivate, or influence people in ways we could never fathom. Oh, how I hope that I can be reminded of this often, and that my words be well appointed and bring about the latter outcome as often as I can.

Busy little boys...

These pictures simply make me happy. I could look at them again and again and laugh every time. This was Isaac's first time out of the house in something other than Robeez shoes. Ah, the new-found freedom. He couldn't get enough of it. And quite frankly, neither could I.