22 life-changing pages

I finally found a sacred space to read it.

The book.

My friends gave me these words from the heart as a gift for my birthday last November. Each letter was written individually, based on the words God put on their hearts, but they had an unplanned common thread tying them together.

Which was divine.

And cool.

And that morning—when the house was quiet, the sun bright, and the coffee hot—I opened it… and began to read the words that fed my soul.

I didn’t know how much I needed them.

I took my time, camping on phrases, rereading sentences, smiling at their words, amazed by their revelations, and thanking God along the way.

Sometimes it’s just plain hard to read such power-packed words about… yourself.

As women, we’re used to brushing complements aside. We might say, “Oh, this old thing?” when a friend likes our sweater. Or, “Don’t you see the gray roots?” when someone comments favorably on our hair.

We don’t receive easily. Or well.

But this morning was different.

Through these letters gathered into the book, I caught a glimpse of how my friends see me. The pictures painted with their words connected together, as if they sat down, shared ideas, and wrote as a group. But they didn’t.

The truths hit me hard.

Maybe… just maybe… I really am like they write: Fiercely loyal. Tender-hearted. Brave in battle. An overcomer. A wounded healer. A weapon for the Kingdom. Inspiring. Loveable. Encouraging.

Tears welled up and spilled out. My heart inflated.

I was grateful for this sacred space alone, hours before my family woke. And grateful even more for the intentionality of words written in the book.

I felt a confidence—a validation of who God made me to be—rise up.

I felt loved. Seen. Appreciated.

Understood.

You know, there are few material things from this world I really love.

~ I love my orange, leather-bound Bible.

~ I love my wedding ring.

~ I love my sword.

~ I love different cards and artwork from the hands of my kids.

~ I love my Starbucks gold card. It has its privileges, you know.

~ And… I love the book.

My book.

The book that sat on my nightstand for 6 weeks before I opened it.

The one that filled my heart with expectation, waiting for the perfect time to be read.

The book God used to reveal some missing pieces.

Twenty-two life-changing pages.

And words. Countless words. Meaningful words. Kingdom words.

Do you have any idea just how very powerful words can be?

They create or destroy. They affirm or discourage. They are weapons. They are salve. They bring hope. They kill dreams.

And when we understand their power… really understand the assignments of words both spoken and written… we will use them wisely.

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose. (Proverbs 18:21)

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Just keepin’ it real,

Carey

©2014 Carey Scott