4 Powerful Words

Whoever said that words don’t have power is cray cray. Yes I know we heard it as kids, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. Reality is so far from that statement. Words hurt, in fact sometimes they hurt worse than any physical pain or lead to physical pain. But the reality is that words also have the power to heal. When they come from a place of LOVE, they can repair years of pain. So let me tell you more about these 4 Powerful words.

A few years ago, I lost my uncle, Joseph Wayne Smith. He was an awesome dude. Many will never know this but he became a father figure when I lost my dad (his older brother). So even in this article I pay respect to the life he lived and the positive impact he made on SOOO many lives. But the thing that got me as we travelled to pay our last respects were the words from his wife, my beautiful Aunt Lavetta. Words that apparently I needed to hear. Ok I have to paraphrase because it isn’t 4 words yet, but she said “your Uncle was proud of you”. Man, I don’t know what it was, but I sat with tears filling my eyes, grateful.

Your turn

How many people are in your life right now that haven’t heard those words from YOU? Have you taken a moment from your busy life, hectic schedule, important work to simply bless someone with 4 simple words? I’m proud of YOU! People you know that may not even hit the mark all the time but you are proud of the effort. People who are in the trenches not seeking glory, but seldom acknowledged. Leaders who have inspired you but have no idea. I bet if you were to take inventory right now, you would find a few people that you need to pick up the phone (but not to text or post on FB) and call and share 4 simple yet powerful words. Maybe even engage in a little conversation while you are at it.

Challenge

What I’ve learned is that life happens fast. Time flies. But we have a responsibility to stop and pour into the lives of those around us. Our words have power and too often we brag of the times that we “told” somebody, when we should be blessing them. The power of life and death lies in that little but powerful tongue of ours.
I challenge you today, yes YOU, to think, pray and put to action a simple thing. NOTE: recognize I said pray, because it’s not always about what we think and who we feel is “deserving”. Truth be told if we all received what we deserved… Yeah, that’s another topic for another day. Call someone and speak life. Call and let them know you are proud of them. Offer them those 4 powerful words without expecting anything in return. It may be the one little thing they need to lift them beyond their circumstance. It may just be that little nudge they need to press past pain. This may just be the one thing God needs to use you for today.
So what are you waiting for?

Psst I’m proud of YOU!