Breaking the Power of Negative Words by Mary C Busha

-
Breaking the Power of Negative Words

How Positive Words can Heal

How many of you can remember words that were spoken to you as a child, but made a lasting impression on your life? Maybe they were spoken out of anger, frustration, or maybe out of kindness and love, both can be very long-lasting.

Mary explores the power that negative words can have on a person. She gives examples of words spoken on a playground that had the power to linger and be on the tip of the person's tongue 70 or so years later. She also brings out the fact that hurting people hurt people and if we can look behind the words that were spoken to the why of why they were spoken it can help us as we process their effect on our lives. But as children, we are incapable of doing that and those words can do damage. There is the flip side though as well, words that were spoken to a child to lift them up and support them and encourage them can also stick in their minds and inspire them to greatness.

It is very sobering and has really made me stop and think as I speak words to my children. What am I really saying to them? What am I showing them? Am I building them up or tearing them down? Yes, words of correction need to be spoken, sometimes many times a day, but is it said in a mean-spirited way, is it said only about the behavior or am I including aspects of their personality as well? Am I also seeking out the positive things they do and speaking words to them in the affirmative as well?

And then, moving on, what do I say to myself? Am I constantly filling my mind with negative things about myself or am I resting in who I am in Christ and remembering that I am His creation and that I am worth something? Am I also processing what other people say to me through the lens of perspective and seeking to understand why they said what they said?

One thing Mary did talk about was how personality differences can cause an unintentional offense, simply because we view life differently based on our personality. Grace, we need so much grace, both for the words we hear spoken and the words we say to ourselves and then we need to extend grace to others as well.

One question she asked that I really liked was: "Will I wallow or walk?" Meaning will I wallow in the words that were spoken to me or will I move beyond and claim God's promises and walk forward in newness? That's putting it into my own words. She also used the walking literally and I think that can be very helpful, instead of sitting around and letting the words burn and poison, get up and go do something else.

I enjoyed this book, it was full of so many practical things on such a necessary topic. It was easy to read and filled with enough anecdotes to keep it interesting.

I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fragrant Whiffs of Joy by Dorcas Smucker (It's Giveaway time)

-
Image
Ah yes, this was just what the doctor ordered. I've wanted to review Dorcas' last book or two and was always too chicken to ask, but this time I threw caution to the wind and said, "Yes, I want to review your book." And I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect book for this stage in my life. Short, easy to read chapters that can be picked up and read whenever and wherever. They are guaranteed to either make you laugh, smile, cry, or or just give you that ah-ha feeling that someone else experiences life like that too.  I could quote from pretty much every chapter something that struck me in one of those ways, but I really want you to go buy the book so I won't do that many spoilers. I only want to give you a hint of what is to come in the book. First off, isn't the cover beautiful? I can dream of a kitchen table like that with the apple pie still steaming and the tea pot, or coffee pot more likely, full to the brim and a beautiful arrangement of flowers
Read more

PRECIOUS CHILD

-
In my dreams, you are alive and well Precious child, precious child In my mind, I see you clear as a bell Precious child, precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be filled But in my heart, there is hope 'Cause you are with me still In my heart, you live on Always there never gone Precious child, you left too soon Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart In my plans, I was the first to leave Precious child, precious child But in this world, I was left here to grieve Precious child, my precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be  filled But in my heart there is hope And you are with me still In my heart you live on Always there, never gone Precious child, you left too soon,  Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart God knows I want to hold you,  See you, touch you And maybe there's a heaven And someday I will again Please know yo
Read more

The Swindler's Daughter by Stephania H. McGee

-
Image
  Lillian is raised by her "widowed" mother who wants Lillian to marry slightly above her station so as to secure a good future for both Lillian and her mother.  But then the unexpected happens and Lillian is left the inheritance of her father who has only just now died. She travels to Dawsonville where she is confronted with secrets and a whole new life. She is given community, family, friendships and acceptance, something she has never had before.  It was a fun light read, but I can't say I gained any huge inspiration from it. It was pretty fluffy. Of course, there was Jonah battling his own things and struggling to come to terms with the way his own life was turning out. So you know the end of all that, but on the way there there was some danger and some twists and turns in the plot which added to the story.  I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 
Read more