Words Matter

The anniversary of my dad's death is here. It has been 2yrs. Someday I may go back and fill in the holes in my other blog. For now, I have been reflecting on the power of a parent's words and wanted to share some thoughts. 

There are times in my life that my father's words brought me to tears in a good way. Every time he told me he was proud of me. When he told his congregation with great pride that I was pregnant with Snipp and that my husband had become manager of his store. When he had a pep talk with me after Jim died. And another pep talk when he battled cancer the third time. The most precious was when he told me he couldn't have asked for a better daughter......even as I type that last one I tear up.

Cuz I know me. I know the worry and frustration I gave him as a teenager. I know the times as a young woman I didn't listen to his advice. And I know he didn't always agree with how I was raising my kids. And I made him feel disrespected at times though I didn't mean to. 

Yet as cancer made him weak and weary, I am the one he told what outfit to bury him in and what picture to display.  I am the one that stayed in his room & held his hand as the death rattle echoed off the walls. I played music and left only briefly. Dad had gone to countless bedsides as death crept closer. He didn't want people alone. And I was determined he wouldn't be alone either....he wasn't. As his breath stopped then started again, I hollered for my mom. Family all rushed in and my dad left this world surrounded by love.

Parents, remember that the Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18 : 21a). Your words matter. Speak words of life to your kiddos. Let them know you are proud of them. They know they aren't perfect and disappoint you at times. Tell them what characteristics you love about them. Thank them for little things they do. Tell them you forgive them when they hurt you. And let them know you are thankful God gave them to you. 

Your words matter. Let them breathe life into your children.
And let them shed tears in a good way when you are no longer here & they remember your words . 

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