You never know ...

I guess there are a lot of quotes I could dig up about minding your tongue. There are many more about how your words affect folks. It's a two way street. Your words might inspire or encourage or they might cut to the bone.
I'll share a very personal story.
About five days after my first child was born my then husband decided he didn't want to be married to me anymore. It sucked, pretty hard. I was mostly angry and because I had a precious newborn to care for I sort of adopted an attitude that I couldn't be bothered by his nonsensical crap. But I was broken on the inside, big ol honkin' knife in my back was hard for me to ignore.
My dear friend Templeton recently released a new album. She's an amazin' singer, songwriter, cowgirl poet. She has a song on this album called "Stronger in the broken places" http://www.templetonthompson.com
This song is an anthem for healing from anything that might have been a tough row to hoe for you. First time I heard it - tears instantly sprang to my eyes. It reminded me of nearly 12 years ago when I took my 6 week old baby to my post-havin'-a-baby appointment. I was alone. My husband was shacked up with his new love and I began the journey of raisin' my incredible son Wade on my own (which by the Grace of God didn't last long). In the waiting room some incredibly well meaning woman asked me or commented that she betted that my husband was sure proud of such a beautiful and perfect baby boy. Still full of a lot of anger, I said with as much grace as possible that I really wouldn't know. Without great detail I explained that Wade's "dad" cheated on me while I was pregnant and was not really pitchin' in with the diaper changes. He was gone. I'll never forget that woman. She didn't belittle my ex-husband (who is making amends these days) but she said. "Well, honey ... you are in a better position than you think. You are beautiful and you have this gorgeous baby boy and you will meet someone wonderful. You will meet a man that will fall in love with this child and with you, so don't you worry."
She spoke my world into existence ... just threw it out there to the universe and about a year later I met Kent. Kent fell in love with Wade before he completely fell for me.
So what you say to someone, even if you are just bein' sweet or thoughtful can hold more meaning for someone than you ever realize.
We are stronger in the broken places ... I think that a lot of people feel broken these days because financial circumstances are beyond their control. It's hard not to feel broken when you don't have money to pay for the things you and your loved ones need. I know what that feels like. I also know we will all be better for the struggles. I really wonder if this isn't our good Lord trying to wipe out that sense of entitlement that plagued our young people and many of their parents too. Many of us have been saying "we need to get back to basics" and how our values were eroding. Well nothing will jerk your butt right into reality and right from wrong like being absolutely forced live on the meager side. Maybe it's a collective smack upside the head? God knows and has been telling us for round about 2000 years that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Sometimes it makes us a little jaded and cynical too. We can get past that. Moral decay is a little tougher to turn at a dead gallop. I don't know but a lot of folks I know are getting back to those basics and enjoying time with their families. They are taking walks and enjoying simpler things. I experience so much joy just from watching my kids. Yesterday, my five year old really thought he could walk down to the pasture and pick up one of the many birds that were feasting on dropped grain and bring it to me. He asked my permission "Mommy, can I bring you a bword." My laughter was the product of pure, unadulterated amusement. You can't pay payments on that.

You are stronger in the broken places!
peace and light
Tess