Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Yeah right.

Who ever came up with such a saying?  (I did some research on this and could not find the author.)

I am just saying–words of rejection and hurt do not tend to slip away into the dark quite that easily. And the same goes with words of love and encouragement.

Just think–is there a time in your life in which someone said something so negative that it still rings in your ears on occasion?

What about the opposite?  Was there someone–a parent, teacher, boss, pastor, friend–who empowered you with a word of encouragement?

A friend came over last night who is beginning to change his life. He already has an enjoyable life, but he knows that there is something more out there than his current job and lifestyle. To be honest, I was intentional about encouraging him. I know how invaluable words of encouragement are for me in my own life. In some ways, I live off of them. Be it God’s spoken truths through my pastor or through a friend’s reminder of who and what I am. Last night, I was both able to be encouraged by friends and encourage others–this is what I long for–to ‘take back’ the power of words–to encourage and be encouraged. To, if not eradicate (I am not that naive), but lessen the sting of negative words that so easily occur in our lives.

Right now, for me–I know I have the choice. I have the choice to love and encourage through my words and I am striving for this. I am striving to be intentional with what I say and how I say it. Just as Kyle reminded me of my long-term goals and Pastor Jim and Kim spoke words of truth into my life last night after church, I hope to do the same in the lives of others–right now, Stateside with my friends, but in less than a week–in New Zealand among my team, squad, and locals.

I do not plan for this to stop anytime soon–but to continue to use the power of words to uplift, not destroy those around me. Be it within any context–ministry, vocation, the academia world, and et al.