Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble. ~Yehuda Berg
How many of you, as children, learned the little singsong saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Often our parents told us to say that whenever someone said words to us that were hurtful. Maybe we did say that about sticks and stones, but sometimes we had a hard time believing it. Especially when those words stuck around in our memory long after they were said.
How much better it is to hear encouraging words! To be like Barnabas in the Bible. His name was actually Joses according to Acts 4:36 but the apostles called him Barnabas which can be translated as Son of Encouragement. Being an encourager is a gift to those around you and to yourself too. We are encouraged when we encourage others. That’s why we go to our kids and grandkids ballgames and school programs. That’s why we brag on them when they finish their chores, get good grades, work toward goals and more. A kind word can be like a life preserver thrown out to us when we’re in a sea of discouragement. It can be good any time.
A good review like the one above for The Refuge that my publishers sent me last week is an encouragement. Those good reviews are sometimes a very needed encouragement when a writer is feeling down or wondering if they have lost their way in whatever story they are trying to write. Even better than good words from reviewers for publications are the good words from readers. Each message I receive from readers lifts my spirits and helps me believe my next story might be possible. Your comments make me aware of the power words have to make a story and characters come to life.
Sometimes the encouraging words come in e-mail messages like this one from Aviana. “I am re-reading your Rosey Corner series once again; I finished it last year but I love it so much that I started it all over.”
Sometimes the encouraging words come from someone who leaves a comment on one of my Facebook posts or a comment here on my blog posts like this one from Kitty this morning after she read my “Sunday Morning Coming Down” post on my FB page. “I am thankful for you sharing your Sunday morning walks with me and your gift of words that lets me see all that you are seeing.” Just to know someone wants to read your words is an encouragement.
And sometimes the encouraging words can come from a reader who seeks you out to let you know that one of your stories was a good read. It’s not unusual for someone to stop by my table when I’m at a book event to tell me they’ve read and enjoyed my stories. But this year I was particularly encouraged when a teenage boy came looking for me at the Book Fair to let me know he’d bought my kid’s book, Freak of the Week, a couple of years before when I was there for kids’ day at the fair. That year, kids came by the busloads to come look at the books and talk to the authors. Some of them had money to buy books. Some didn’t. But they all had a great time looking at the books and talking to all of us authors. I can’t say that I specifically remembered this kid. I do remember talking to a number of young boys since my book is about a boy and baseball. I haven’t gotten a lot of feedback from the book since I’ve been busy writing and promoting my adult fiction books, but I do like the story. And so did this young man who sought me out to tell me so. He said he liked the story and that he loaned it to a friend who liked the story too. Such a simple thing for him to do and he probably had no idea that I would be so encouraged by his words.
That’s the way our kind words can be. We may not realize the boost that we can give others by complimenting something they did or said, but that’s okay. We don’t say kind words, positive words, encouraging words to give ourselves a pat on the back. We say them to give others that pat on the back.
Choose well your words. They will go marching down the years in the lives you touch. ~Wilfred Peterson
Helping others, encouraging others, are often acts of kindness that have more meaning than you may realize. ~Catherine Pulsife
Do you remember times when a word of encouragement made a difference in your life?
Comments 10
I love your words today…words can make us or break us and stay in our hearts forever. Choosing our words carefully is paramount, and harmful words can be almost as hurtful to the speaker as to the receiver, whereas encouraging words can be beneficial to both . I love your books, Ann! Keep on blessing us with your stories!
Author
You are so right, Lynda. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has sometimes not guarded my words as I should and said something that could have been said in a better way or not said at all. And then I felt bad about it and even if I was able to apologize, the bad feeling of whatever I said that I shouldn’t have didn’t fade away for awhile. But good words spoken can warm your heart as well as the hearts of those you are sharing the encouraging words with.
Thank you so much for reading my words and my stories. I so appreciate that.
There are many, many times in my life when encouraging words have helped me. I appreciate the folks who shared encouragement. I try to give encouragement, too, with a smile, a listening ear and a hug. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Author
A smile, a listening ear and a hug are good things to share and ways to be encouraging to our family and friends, Melissa. I’m like you. I’ve had many sweet words of encouragement from others in my life. For those, I am thankful.
We talked about this in Sunday School yesterday. A man in our community committed suicide this week. I didn’t know him but he left a wife and 6 children. We never know exactly what other people are experiencing in their lives and minds. Some encouraging words could save a life and a family.
Author
That’s so sad, Sherri. But you are right that we can’t always tell when a person is struggling and often don’t know how to help even when we do. But suicide is such a sad death and my heart goes out to those children and that family. May we always do our best to shine an encouraging light for those around us. Sunday school is such a great place to talk out such concerns and find encouragement too.
Yes,Ann! The words we use are so important as The Lord can use them to be be a source of life to those around us. Growing up the first verse my parents had me memorize outside of John 3:16-17 was Proverbs 15:1,” A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” The point in having me memorize this verse was to teach me the power of words; and to try to help me think before I speak. 😉 Sometimes I am good at thinking before I speak,sometimes not. 😋 Each of us has ways we can grow,right? 😊 Proverbs 16:24 is also very encouraging,which says,”Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” I’m so glad use have been The recipient of encouraging words lately,Ann! Have a great Thanksgiving week and God bless,my friend! 😍Philippians 1:1-11😍
Author
Emily, I know you will always be an encourager. Your story will touch many lives. Actually, has already touched many lives. Keep on saying those gentle words and helping those around you to realize the power of the good Word of the Lord.
I’m a special education teacher/behavioral interventionist. I awoke an hour before the 5 a.m. alarm this morning with a particular 4th grade student heavy on my heart. He’s heavy into name calling, and I’m sure he’s being taunted as well.
I opened Gmail, and here’s God speaking through Ann Gabhart. Every author should realize their words are seeds. God will bring a harvest.
Needless to say, here’s my answer, and Freak of the Week is on order.
Author
Well, what an extra encouragement you sent my way, Debra. Sometimes we send out words with no idea who might hear them or how they might be received. Other times we say words we wish back or that were misunderstood. I’m glad my post was an encouragement for you and I do hope that your student will find a way to be encouraged and learn better ways to respond to what goes on around him. Sometimes when you think about what some children endure in family life and personal struggles, your heart hurts for them. Thank you for being a teacher who cares.