After our onslaught of CRUSH words, some uplifting words have been poured into our lives ~ numbers look good, tumor reduction, treatment working. There are still challenges: time, money, energy … But we cannot discount the power of encouraging words. And the need for them is great in our world.
Recently a friend described her sense of utter exhaustion and emptiness. I heard a person on television dismiss and demean an entire group of intelligent, generous, motivated individuals. And in my morning devotion, I read about a man deep in depression who experienced affirmation, encouragement, even being energized by a gentle pat on the back. Misery, confusion, fear, and anger abound in our world. Trouble comes. It comes as naturally as sparks from a fire fly upward. [Job 5:7] The people in our lives need us to speak some good words into their world.
Certainly if friends are close enough, a touch can also speed healing, spur hope. And our words are like arrows. Once sprung, they may hit a place or in a way that we didn’t intend and cannot control. Jennifer Dukes Lee says in her similarly-themed blog on (in)courage:
“Words can take you prisoner, or they can set you free.” And
“Our words always fold into the souls of other human beings. That’s no small thing.”
Words are powerful. And we are so grateful to those who’ve spoken gentleness, grace, encouragement to us as Ed and God take aim at the cancer. Who’ve spoken prayers on our behalf. We aim [as explained in 2 Cor. 1:4] to use the comfort of those words to encourage others in their pain. Words. What a gift, yes? Imagine trying to convey all this with a few motions or drawings.
