What Might Soothe Their Wounds
Janet EcklesSome months ago after a visit to my doctor, I
stopped by the receptionist counter. “Is this all I need?”
She placed papers in my hand, “sure is, have a great day.” Her tone rang
with tenderness.
“Thank you,” I said, leaning toward the desk. “Stay as sweet as you
are.”
After a few moments, she said, “That is the nicest thing I've heard in
a long time.” Her voice choked.
I’d not said anything profound or particularly complimentary. But I was
touched, really touched but also intensely enlightened. How could a few
words evoke such reactions in others? How can our tone accompanying our
words stir a response of gratitude, or even a reaction of admiration and
gladness?
Words hold power, often greater than swords in our hands. Those words
that slip from our tongue, those letters that we string together in
emails, those responses to telemarketers or drivers on the road, or even
to those we love either plant a sweet scent of encouragement or drip dark
gloom into someone’s day.
A friend of mine begins her emails with: "Hello dear sweet Janet.” A
warm wave of delight caresses my heart when reading her greeting. And in
turn, prompts me to ripple that same feeling to someone else.
Conversely, confessing my faults, I’ve had moments when the words I
poured out spurred ugly regret. Words to friends, hubby and even my
children. And while turning the pages of the album of my heart, I wonder
what words ring in my sons’ ears, or echo still?
Not long ago, I asked them. “Hey guys, do you remember the notes I used
to Scotch tape to your pillows?” “Got everyone of them, I saved them mom,”
my oldest son said. “I remember the notes that you’d put in our lunch
boxes,” chimed my twenty-five year old.” They remember, I thought with
delight. Like a soft fall breeze, gladness swept over me. They may have
forgotten moments when I blurted instructions, quick demands, and harsh
scoldings.
But something prompted me to spend those few seconds jotting simple
words on a piece of paper and stuffing them in their lunch boxes. Perhaps
it was an attempt to fill the role of a good mom, or to make up for my
feelings of inadequacies, insecurities. Or just a tug at my heart, wanting
them to know they were loved, really loved.
As they got older, longer notes that expanded on life’s insights,
admonishments and praises for their achievements waited for them on their
pillows.
Words, whether written or said, can transform and turn wounds to
healing, dark moments into hope, defeat into victory and even despair into
joy.
Struggles and fears abound, they did for my sons. And also swirl in the
lives of those we touch. The words we sprinkle might just be the balm that
soothes their broken world.
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
(Proverbs 25:1)
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