This Week I Remembered

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Friends, I can’t believe it’s been over five months since my last post. I didn’t mean to be gone for so long. But first there was a season of grief and loss then I just needed some quiet and then honestly, I just wasn’t sure I wanted to come back . . .

Being sensitive to conflict, the world has been stressing me out. It can be dark out there and I had been feeling overwhelmed by all of the noise and thinking that words were part of the problem. A big part. Words being used in media and the news for hate. Words thrown out in comments disguised as “conversation” but really just echo chambers.

Words were being used to divide rather than bring together and I just wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of it. I didn’t know if I ever wanted to go back to sharing my words. . .  at least in the online world.

But then this week something happened and I remembered . . .

I remembered WHY we need to share our words.

I attended the Leverage Conference in San Jose earlier this week which. The conference was created by the amazing author and speaker Kathi Lipp. The purpose of Leverage is really to equip communicators to go into the world and share the message God gave them. I attended last year for the first time and was returning this time as part of the alumni group.

When I arrived I questioned why I was even there, other than the fact that I love Kathi and knew the quality of the event would be fantastic, I wasn’t sure that I had a message I wanted to share anymore.

Well, the conference was great. I learned a lot and I can tell you more about it another time but there was one serendipitous moment in particular that changed everything for me.

One of the guest coaches that were there to train the attendees was a writer, speaker and ministry leader named Jill Savage.

Jill has been one of my “mom heroes” for years.  I have read pretty much all of her books and they have ministered to me in many ways.

As a younger mom her books really encouraged me as I made the transition from working full-time to being a stay-at-home mom. Books like Professionalizing Motherhood and My Heart’s at Home really helped me to cultivate a love for being at home and grow in my role as a mom.

So of course I was a total dork when I met Jill and told her how much all of her books have meant to me. I even showed her a quote from one of her books that I have had pinned on my bulletin board for years now as encouragement.

Honestly, meeting her was somewhat emotional for me and it’s because I remembered that words can be a gift.

I remembered how someone who you’ve never met and don’t even know can impact your life and influence your family.

I remembered that words can and do bless.

I remembered the healing power of words. That they can be a balm to a hurting soul.

And I even remembered that there had been times when my own words have blessed others.

I knew it was time to come back.

Because the truth is that it IS dark out there in the world. And at times it can feel overwhelming. But the solution is not to shut our eyes or stay quiet because of the darkness but rather to shine one little light at a time.

As the holidays approach I’ve been thinking about our Christmas decorations and how each little light bulb is needed to light up the tree. Because (somewhat annoyingly) when one goes out the whole strand goes dark.

On its own, each individual light can seem small and insignificant but when you see the whole string shine, you hardly notice the darkness of the tree in the background because it’s so sparkly.

The way to bring light into the world is for each of us to shine our own little bulb where we are called as we stay connected to the strands of hope and faith.

And I don’t want to miss the opportunity to shine my tiny little light and share just a small bit of hope here if there’s a chance that it could encourage someone.

So friends, I will be back very soon cause I have more to share. In the meantime would you let me know what you’ve been up to? How are you shining in your own spaces?

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

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