Words And Mentors
As I listen to my children discuss things that have been said to them, as I hear the things I say, or that are said to me, I realize more and more the power of Words. I expressed the other day appreciation to Mr. T. for the influence he was on my sons and the way he mentored them, but I also have heard my sons discussing what he said or how he spoke to them.
While reflecting on what I was hearing the boys talk about, I heard this song by Hawk Nelson.
Words by Hawk Nelson
Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out
Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
Let the words I say
Be the sound of Your grace
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice
Words have the power to either crumble or build people up, or to light fires in their hearts.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be more aware of what I am saying to others, to be more kind, more encouraging, more loving in my responses. I want to be more Christlike to my own husband and children. I want to be an understanding, uplifting, building up, gracious, and encouraging friend. I want to be aware of the power of my words on the very people God has asked me to mentor. I want to speak life and truth into the people I influence. I am still a Titus 2 Wanna Be.
The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:23-24
From the WORDS of my oldest son on Mr. T.’s mentorship and ways of encouraging him:
Today a dear friend went to Heaven, after losing a hard fought battle with Parkinson’s and cancer. There are no words to really describe this feeling in my stomach, just everything that keeps running through my head that I wish I could have said to him face to face one more time. There are no amount of thank you’s, because where would I even start?
Thank you for taking a risk on this kid that you’d never met before, and calling one day to interview me to work for you.
Thank you for being more than an employer, but for being a mentor as well. For the conversations before the work day, and at the end. God brought you into my life when I was trying to crawl out of one of my lowest points, and God doesn’t make mistakes when He brings people into our lives.
Thank you for the endless sodas, for the fist bumps instead of handshakes, for always calling me “John Boy.”
Thank you for being one of the few people on this planet who commended my parents, specifically my mother, for doing what they believed God had called them to do by homeschooling us and raising us to be stronger Christians.
Thank you for being one of a few people back in Michigan for supporting me and praying for me when I was thinking about moving to New England. Thank you for encouraging me to stay the path that God had called me on, and for the constant reminder to seek Him out always. Thank you for always being excited for me.
Thank you for always asking about my fiancé. One of the greatest memories I have of you was taking the time to meet her, even though you hardly had the energy to walk down the stairs.
Thank you for supporting my trips to Haiti.
Thank you for hiring my brother, and for being a rock in both his and my life.
Thank you for being an example of true humility.
Thank you for being another example of a true, loving husband, father, and grandfather.
And lastly, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life for the last 3 years.
My heart breaks when I think of all the pain that you’ve had to endure over the last few years, but my heart also rejoices when I realize that you are with no more pain, and no more sickness. My heart breaks when I realize that you are no longer with us, but my heart also rejoices when I realize that one day we can all be reunited in eternity.
Thanks for being a true friend. I’ll miss you terribly, Mr. T. I’ll miss the conversations and the company, and the vocabulary quizzes that you loved to jump on me. Thank you for the impact that you’ve made on my life. Until we are reunited, old friend.
“He has shown you, oh man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Blessings,
Deb
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