The Power of Words

Have you ever had someone say something to you that changed your world or gave you a new perspective?

The first time it happened to me was in the months following 9-11. I was riddled with anxiety about the safety and future of my children and had fallen in a deep depression. My 10 week old son was in the hospital, oxygen dependant from a bout of RSV.

I was sharing my worries with my sister in-law who unknowingly spoke one sentence that had a profound effect on me.

“Kristie, it seems you’ve lost your faith.”

I was defensive at first but over the next few days her words echoed in my mind. She was right. I had lost my faith in God, in what is good in the world, and that with every bad “thing” there is a grace that follows.

From that moment on, the power of her words motivated me to work on my faith and my despair dissipated with that renewed faith.

Recently I have been dealing with my disappointment about having more than one child with Tourettes and related disorders.

Once again I was losing my faith.

Once again one person spoke one simple sentence to change my perspective.

This past Tuesday I met with Connor’s first grade teacher to discuss my room parent duties. While I was waiting for his teacher her assistant approached me. Connor is my third child that these teachers have had in their class.

“Connor is such a delight to have in class,” she says. “Actually, all your children are wonderful. Just when I’m thinking one is really neat, along comes another, and then another.”

All your children are wonderful.

My “a-ha” moment.

My children are wonderful.

I had been spending so much time mourning the children I had wished for instead of loving the children I have and had stopped paying attention to all the wonderfulness they were showing me.

Connor had thanked me unprompted for the love notes I was putting in his lunchbox.

Madeline had told me that she wanted to win the Wii grand prize for the school fundraiser so she could give it to a classmate who doesn’t have one.

Isabelle gave up her swing on the playground without being asked to a child she didn’t even know.

My children are wonderful.

I need to stop worrying that their lives are going to be hard or that I’m not doing a good enough job as their mom.

I think they are going to be just fine.

Don’t ever underestimate the power of your words. Your words just may motivate someone, inspire a revelation, give hope, or offer a new perspective.

How have the power of words affected your world?

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