Words Matter

Sharing a story out loud becomes a powerful equalizer of the collective human spirit by inviting others to be by our side. 
-The Miracle Collectors

"Use your words..." an often used request from any mother or caretaker of a child when we don't know what's wrong. And yet of late using our words has had devastating effects. As writers we take this affront seriously, and as humans we need to come up with a new strategy to promote well-being. As Joan explains in this month's blog words matter, but love is always the answer, whatever the question. 

Collecting Miracle Moments One Story at a Time.

Joan and Katie

Words are as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. Recently, we have seen both the value and the harm that words can bring. The events of the past weeks have put in sharp contrast the freedom we have to speak our words and the consequences that may result. It is a lesson and a reminder to speak from the perspective of love, sowing kindness and unity instead of fostering division and discontent.

Admittedly, I am not the biggest bible reader, so I was pleased to find some current day advice from the book of Proverbs (12:25) when it popped up on my computer screen, "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." Although written millennia ago, I had to acknowledge the pertinence of the statement in today's world.

Shortly after reading the verse, I saw a headline in Story Corps about a grandmother who, according to the article, was a miracle for her disabled granddaughter. The grandmother actually went back to school to learn how to communicate with her granddaughter and get her to communicate as well. During the summer of 2001, the two worked together daily culminating in the 6-year-old girl speaking her first words. The young girl also wrote her first letter, addressing it to her mother and using her words to tell her she loved her. Jesus knew how important love was when he used his own words to exhort us to love one another. In fact, it was this message of love that is at the foundation of what he called the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Over the summer I was fortunate enough to attend four beautiful and distinctive weddings. The words each bride and groom spoke echoed this love, silencing the anxiety of the moment and centering the ceremony in kindness for one another. I also had the honor of being at the funeral of a loved one gone suddenly from this world. There, the words spoken by his friends and family soothed not only the pain of his passing but the anxiety of the unknown path ahead. I felt like the proverb was speaking directly to me and those around me got the message.

In addition to my new love of proverbs, I have always loved old songs. As I was writing this blog, the lyrics the Bee Gees sang so many years ago kept playing over in my mind, "It's only words and words are all I have to take your heart away." It's a reminder to try to use the words we have to bring back love and acceptance into our conversation in these times of consternation in the world around us. (Joan)