I have the blessing of raising three daughters. If I had a dollar for every time someone said something to me about having three girls and commenting “Oh, are you going to try for that boy?” when my girls were toddlers, I’d be rich. Or, more recently, it’s more “Oh you just wait until they become teenagers…” Mind you, this is always right in front of them. I’m sure boy moms run into the same issue.
These unsolicited comments over the years have given me opportunities to respond in thankfulness for the three incredible blessings God has given me.
I am thankful for the gift of my children regardless of their gender. If He had chosen to give me all boys, I would have been just as grateful. I don’t feel like I’m missing out and neither does my husband. Instead of looking at life in light of what we don’t have, we focus on what we do have. We are both very, very thankful for the family God has given us.
One lesson I’ve tried to teach my girls through these experiences is that our words matter. Every day we have a choice. We can either speak words that build someone up or words that tear them down. The old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is untrue.
Words do hurt.
Hearts, dreams, and relationships have been broken from hurtful words, both intentionally or unintentionally spoken. Not only is this true for the words we say to others, but also for the words we say to ourselves.
I know this because I struggle in this area of my life. I will say things to myself that I would never dream of saying to someone else.
Part of learning to combat our fears with God’s truth is recognizing not only the power of the words we speak to others but also the power of the words we speak to ourselves.
As we catch our fears and anxieties rising in us, may we begin to let our words of the past die in the past! May we embrace God’s truth and receive His mercy morning after morning as we watch the sunrise.
“The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!“
Like His ever constant sunrises, may our minds focus on truth and may our lips declare it. Gone are the old ways of thinking, we are no longer women who will be slaves to our past thought patterns, our past shame, or our hurtful memories. We are building an arsenal of verses to combat the lies spoken to us and lies we find ourselves speaking to ourselves.
We are women who recognize the power of our words, and we will use them wisely.
We will choose to speak life into our children, husbands, friends, and parents, as well as into our own.
Love God Greatly!
How has this study changed the way you speak to others and to yourself?
