Your words matter. Do you KNOW how MUCH your words matter and what your friendship means? Do you really know your worth? You should. But just in case you haven’t been told lately, there’s no better month than August to remind you.
Because August is officially Friendship month! And friendship is everything to me. It’s why the SONshine Box was created (if you don’t know about it, then check it out here). And friendship is also the foundation of Women at the Well—where faith is better shared.
I don’t think it’s coincidental that just this month I experienced how valuable our words can be to a friend—or even to a stranger who quickly becomes a friend.
Recently I sat at a large round table at a weekend women’s conference. We were all dressed in our best, and maybe some of us were hiding our mess under well-worn smiles. Even trying to cover up laugh lines and creases that hinted of late-night cries.
But many bravely cracked through facades and broke unspoken codes, sharing hopes and dreams with complete strangers. Inviting vulnerability and authenticity to pull up a seat, so we could shake our pom poms of kind words to spur each other on.
On the last day, the one with the brightest smile and the loudest laugh quietly leaned over to say, “I just want to thank you for your smile and kind words yesterday.”
I looked at her like my little girl looks up at me when I use words that are as big as her hair bows and way beyond her vocabulary. And like my little one, I sat there dumbfounded, but delighted.
I fumbled for words like I do when I hurriedly search for my keys—that are in my hand. Or for my glasses—that are on my head.
And then it was as if God was sitting there with us, sliding His Kingdom keys across the table and placing a vase full of beautiful flowers before us. I selected sweet sentences that would leave a lasting scent, offered petals of love, and spoke key words that couldn’t be mine.
“How could I NOT smile at you?” I asked. “You’re SO loving and encouraging to others.” Then her eyes whispered hidden hurts as she spoke, “But if you only knew what was going on inside of me.”
I gently, yet firmly, responded, “Well, you need to know that you’re the sound of clapping hands and the feel of a warm hug to those around you. God loves you so much.”
Her face lit up, but then she paused in disbelief before finally catching up to the truth. I caught a glisten of a tear and a glimmer of hope in her blue eyes as she said, “Will you write that down for me?”
I grinned the answer and found my pen far quicker than I ever find my keys. And even before the session concluded, she asked me again, “Did you write them down?”
She gave me a “thank you” smile as I slid His words across the table, but kept the priceless moment as a parting gift to me.
You can see why it’s SO important that we celebrate each other. With our words and our worth.
SO I’m celebrating YOU and the GIFT OF WORDS AND FRIENDSHIP with a giveaway. You’ll get a chance to win a friendship gift basket at the end of the month.
But in the meantime, share this post with a special friend, or friends, to tell them that their words matter and that their friendship means the world to you.
Go ahead. If any of the statements below apply, slide this note across the virtual table to them. Just to say THANK YOU. Here goes.
DEAR FRIEND, THANK YOU:
For words of love and encouragement.
For spending time with me and investing your belief in me.
For connecting your heart to mine.
For your availability and meaningful conversations, the audible ones, and the ones quietly typed out.
For sharing memories and capturing moments with me.
For celebrating me, standing up for me, and cheering me on. (Thank you just as much for being willing to sit down with me when I couldn’t get up.)
For showing me the pure love and kindness of a friend.
For just being YOU.
And AGAIN, THANK YOU for the power of your words—keep saying them. And for prayers I may never even know about—keep praying them.
Enter to win the Friendship Gift Basket.
And if you’re new here, and if we’re not already, LET’S BE FRIENDS!
I’d love for you to subscribe to the blog, Like us on Facebook, and share us with YOUR friends. Now enter to win a Friendship gift basket, filled with some of my favorite goodies we’d share during a girlfriend outing. We’d surely share faith stories over coffee (or I’d forgive you if you ordered tea), and talk about the books we’re reading, the blessings we’re journaling, and then I’d listen for your “Yes!” when I asked if you had time to stroll through my favorites—Hobby Lobby and Charming Charlie’s (so we could get our creativity and our bling on).
(Includes the pink journal in the picture, Starbucks, Hobby Lobby, and Charming Charlie’s $10.00 gift cards, and books by my favorite authors who are FRIENDS. *$100.00 value in all, but priceless time well spent.)
HAPPY FRIENDSHIP MONTH!
