Over these weeks of Lent, we’ve tried to be mindful of the words and ways we speak to others.
Our wearied souls are soothed when we use the Bible’s rich advice to perfect the pause, measure our motives, monitor our methods, build our brothers, and learn to leave.
When our words are kind and gentle, our spirits will be, too. We have fewer regrets and become more charitable and peaceful.
Today, let’s wield our words well, confident in the guidance of God’s Word.
Yes, He is risen, and with that joy, we can rest in the knowledge that God loves us even if we haven’t perfected the challenge of using our words well. He knows we’re not perfect.
Welcome Back! I hope we’re all making our conversations sweeter. We’ve only got two weeks until Easter – plenty of time for more progress!
Week 4: Build up Others
In some ways, this week’s idea is a continuation of the last, and builds on the idea of speaking gently and respectfully to encourage others. Words have the power to wound and hurt, but they also have the power to inspire and heal. Our sweet comments can do immeasurable good in this wounded world, and there are opportunities every day to recognize and appreciate one another.
For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:34,36).
We can use our words to complement another’s hard work instead of letting it go unnoticed: try to give at least one sincere compliment every day.
We can use our words to show gratitude for kindness rather than taking it for granted: try to say thank you for even small gestures
We can use our words to remind those we love how much they mean to us: take time to tell your spouse or children you love them. Not just a quick, “Love you!” as we run out the door to work or school, but with heartfelt attention in a quiet moment.
Kindness begets kindness, and our appreciation for others soothes our own hearts as well.
Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and invigorating to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).
Let’s continue using our words to make the world a sweeter place. Come back next week for one last idea. See you then!
-colleen
Excerpts taken from: Arnold, Colleen. “5 Steps toward Better COMMUNICATION.” St. Anthony Messenger, vol. 129, no. 8, 2022, pp. 31-34
Although we recognize that plenty of good things happened in 2022, the start of a new year can be melancholy – sadness for the people who are no longer part of our lives, regret over mistakes or missed opportunities, self-criticism for goals left unfinished. It’s easy to let those negative thoughts overpower the good ones until we’ve ruminated into a funk.
But how about if we try something different this year?
How about if we tell those negative voices in our heads to take a hike, hit the road, get lost, vamoose, make like a tree and leave, get out of Dodge, beat it, call it a day, make yourself scarce, go fly a kite, make like a banana and split, buzz off, take a powder….
You get the idea.
Pay attention to those negative trains of thought and derail them! Tongue in cheek, but no less accurate. You don’t have to be a slave to those critical, disapproving, judgmental voices in your head.
When you catch your brain trash-talking you, turn it off. Literally do something else – recite a positive affirmation, say a prayer for yourself or someone else, do a few jumping jacks or deep knee bends – whatever it takes to get your ruminating brain out of the rut it’s digging.
Because just like our brains can have negative ruts that keep us trapped, with practice, we can build positive ones that are even deeper.
So instead of beating myself up because I didn’t post enough on this blog, I’ll fixate on the articles and posts I got published elsewhere. Instead of regretting goals that didn’t come to fruition, I’ll focus on ones that did.
How about you? Can you reframe those negative thoughts about 2022 into positive ones?
Sometimes my worry about the people I love makes me try to control them. But God knows better than I do what’s truly best for them, and I need to let go. Click on the link below to read more in my recent post on Pause and Pray.
And while you’re there, consider subscribing to get Pause and Pray daily in your inbox. It’s a great resource to add a few minutes of prayer and holy action to your day!
