Words

Remember the childhood "sticks and stones may brake my bones, but words will never hurt me"? But inside we did hurt. There is much power in spoken words. There is also much power in written words... they can cheer you, encourage you, make you laugh, make you cry... endless possibilities. I am very particular about what I read... and I enjoy my choices. If you know me well, you know that I DON'T read fiction. I just do not enjoy it, so don't be offended if I don't accept a fiction book that you think is great. I truly enjoy travel essays/narratives, hiking and climbing adventures, biographies, and the Bible. Oh, and I DON'T like self-help books.

These days when I have a few precious minutes, I enjoy reading other people's blogs. In addition to looking in on my friends' blogs, I have a special few that I check when I allow myself that luxury: Elise's A Path Made Straight, Gina's Chats with an Old Lady, and today I discovered Dionna's Using my Voice (I'll have more in a separate posting). These precious ladies, whom I do not know personally, use their free time to share inspiring words about life and family. Their words have inspired me, caused me to think, and at times caused me to pray for someone that I don't even know because her needs seemed so much greater than what I perceived was my great need at that moment (Elise, you just can't imagine how you've touched me!).

Finally, I love cards... old fashioned, handwritten cards. Don't get me wrong, I really like receiving emails from my friends and family (NOT forwards... but that is another subject entirely) and text messages (my girls are great about the latter). But I find that there is something special about handwritten words from the heart.

Today I encourage you to take notice of words... that you read, that you write, that you hear, and that you speak.