Power-filled words
The first year I sent hand written Christmas cards was the year I was hanging in the balance, waiting to see if my marriage would be ending in divorce. I had absolutely no good news to share. I had no cheerful pictures to tuck inside foil lined envelopes. The only things going on in my life were sad and depressing and everyone knew about it anyway.
I selected a simple card with the words from a Christmas song and a scripted holiday message inside. Fully intending on writing, “Merry Christmas! Love, Brittnye” I couldn’t. I stared at the blank half of the card as words flooded my heart with a desire to fill the space.
Giving into the pull, personal notes of gratitude, love, and thanksgiving spilled across each card.
The following week, I received a message saying, “Thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas card. It was the best card I received this year and one I will keep forever. I really appreciate what you wrote inside.”
Over the past decade, I have attempted to send Christmas cards with personal messages because how many times a year do you say things like this to the people you love?
“Thank you so much for being my friend. I cherish you more than you know and thank God for crossing our paths.”
“Thank you for always loving and supporting me no matter what. Your love encourages me and I wouldn’t be where I am without your support.”
“Thank you for bringing joy into my life. I always look forward to spending time with you and feel refreshed in your presence.
“You are a great blessing to me. I admire how you love God and serve him, and it inspires me in my own faith journey.”
We assume people know these things. Surely, they know we are thankful for their friendship and love. But maybe they don’t. Or maybe they don’t realize how they’ve actually impacted our life. Or maybe, they need to read a few kind words of encouragement and love from someone they care about.
Words are powerful. After all, God created the world with his words.
And he gave us a letter, His Holy Word.
A letter we can read over and over and over again to be reminded of how much we are loved. Words that encourage and inspire. Words that convict and change. Words that He could have, very well, kept to himself. But He didn’t. He chose to speak. To have them written down so they echo now and through all eternity.
Don’t overlook the chance to speak a word of love, kindness, encouragement, or hope into the lives of those you know. It doesn’t have to be a card. It could be a text, an email, or a phone card.
Let those words out to be heard or read because a good word is one that is cherished and not forgotten.
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul…” – Proverbs 16:24
