Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, but words …

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words …

May kill me!

Many children have been taught the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  Although a well-intentioned notation to help our youth develop “thick skin”, it is quite inaccurate.

Words actually have the power of life and death. What is spoken over an individual, good or bad, can sink deep into the heart and begin to play out in their life.  

This is especially alarming with middle school aged students who are already in the midst of hormonal and emotional changes that seem to cause a war within themselves. When you add the aspect of hateful words and bullying into the mix, the results can be tragic even to the point of death.

A little dramatic?

According to the CDC:

·         Suicide is the third leading cause of death among persons aged 10-14, the second among persons aged 15-34 years.

In addition to the CDC findings, my community has witnessed at least one youth suicide a year over the last several years. 

Please don’t ignore the facts. Don’t discount it as small, a passing fad, or middle school drama.

Instead, be a place of hope for them when they feel no one else is listening.

• ·         Speak life giving words to your kids and the youth in your life every day.
• ·         Teach them to value themselves and others.
• ·         Help them recognize that the cutting words of others are not a reflection on them but on the person who spoke the words.
• ·         Show them that a damage causing person is someone who has not yet realized their own value. This is not to say that you ignore poor behavior or act like those who harm others “deserve” sympathy. It is to free your child from feeling like the problem and puts the source of the issue back where it belongs.  
• ·         Most importantly, keep the lines of communication open and seek help when needed.  

Words can be deadly, but we have the power to give them life! 

My full heart and request for you to join me in doing a work that matters

My heart is full today because I was able to do what I love. It’s a program called cooltable. Through it I was able to go into a school, play games with a group of kids, and begin a conversation about three key traits we believe every student has: value, potential, and purpose. It was the kickoff of a twelve lesson journey with these students where they will learn how to navigate a few key areas of life while discovering their value, realizing their potential, and believing they have purpose.

This is something that I absolutely LOVE to do because I believe in the power of the next generation to be a catalyst for positive world change. I see a generation ready to rise up and take on the issues of their day; to be leaders that stand up and speak up, and who always find a way to unite in love in order to promote the betterment of their world and their fellow man.

Even with all the potential they have, I know that the next generation cannot become the leaders they were created to be without the support, encouragement, and leadership of the current generation. They need this generation to speak life to them, to believe in them, and to see potential in them that they can’t yet seem to see in themselves. This is why I am grateful to so many who have come along side of my husband and I to do just that, be the hope for the next generation.  

So yes my heart is full today, but I know that we are not even close to doing all the work there is to do. I know that the mission is greater than me, my family, and our current volunteers. To spread the message of value, potential, and purpose to the next generation it’s going to take A LOT of us working together.

So I’m wondering … would you like to join us in doing a work that matters? If so, contact cooltableministries@gmail.com.

I can’t wait to hear from you! 

Step out of the broken and into the restored.

That one, don't use her. She's damaged. Those are the thoughts that taunt me with regret and press me to fall into submission.

I mean what defense do I have. It's true. The damaged, broken, made a lot of wrong choices and carried a lot of shame girl is me.

     How could THAT girl possibly carry a message of hope?

     How could THAT girl possess anything of value?

     How could THAT girl move from shame to confidence?

Believe me, some days I sit sidelined trying to answer those very questions.

Then I remember that my story doesn't end with the taunting thoughts of worthlessness but rather the truth of who I am through the forgiveness and love of Jesus.

Don't you just love a good plot twist? I do because it means that my story no longer ends with brokenness. Instead, it goes a little like this:

That one. She may have been damaged, but she's not identified by her damage because she has been restored. So that one, use her. Because she knows what it's like to feel hopeless, use her to share a message of hope. Because she has looked for value in so many wrong places and knows it doesn't satisfy the soul, use her to point to things of real value. Because she has carried shame and then experienced the greatness of forgiveness, use her to show others the freedom forgiveness brings.

Now listen, don't think for one second that this starts and stops with me or that it is even all about me.

This is for you too. Maybe our shames and shortcomings are different, but the goal is the same. God wants to move you from the captivity of your past fears, failures, and regrets into a place where you can live confidently in His love.

Go ahead and find your plot twist. Step out of the broken and into the restored.