Words

Words are powerful. I know I am not the first one to make this statement nor the last. Words are powerful.

Today I watched a usually vibrant, talkative, outgoing woman reduced to an insecure, hurt, confused, woman with no voice. As I walked up to her I noticed her body language had shifted from open and warm, to withdrawn. She didn't notice me as she usually did, she didn't look up at me until I had reached her counter. When I said hi, in a cheery voice excited to see her working, I was met with eyes that were full of pain. Redness now covered the once radiant beautiful blue eyes and she barely choked out a hello. When I asked how she was doing she told me she was fine as her voice broke and she tried to keep the tears from her eyes. After a few moments she quietly told me that she had been told she's too talkative and that people don't like that. She needs to stop interacting so much with her customers and remain professional. As she spoke she looked at me with confusion on her face as she asked "Does it bother you when I talk to you?" My heart hurt for to watch this transformation of a woman going from full of life to an empty shell. It wasn't that she was corrected. She can handle this. It was that the very essence of who she was, was no longer acceptable.

Lord I pray that in correction we can also be encouraged. That when giving correction to others we don't tear down the very person that they are. God I pray for a discerning heart. To know who we are and what you say about us. I pray that we learn whatever lessons you have for us in the midst of hurtful words. Above all I pray we never forget the grace and love that you pour over us every single day covering the mistakes we make.