Say please and thank you. Say hello and goodbye, and good morning and I love you. Say it with your eyes, say it with your ears as you listen. Listen carefully for the sounds of beauty and the sounds of creations, the sounds of silence and the sounds of pain, the sound of a friend’s silent tears. Quiet yourself to hear the sounds of God’s whisper on your soul. Stop for a moment to hear and see another’s beauty through God’s eyes, His ears and ask His Spirit to show you a picture of who He made them. And speak out those words, words of comfort, words of adoration and words of love.
As I recently shared at Lauren and Blake’s magical Covid-safe wedding... Be like the Ents, from the famed “Lords of the Rings,” be cured of dumbness, and choose your words carefully, safeguard your love from the erosion of a thoughtless word. Let your words build one another up. Speak encouragement over one another, and alway pray over and for one another.
In the beginning was the the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Then, God said “let there be light.”
Today, speak out your love and light over friends and family, and speak specifics. Illuminate who they are for all to see and hear.
I love all my nieces and my nephews. And yet today, I am thankful for you, Eloise. I love your heart for family, and desire to make others happy, and I love the way you crawl into your grandfather’s lap. I love that you took time to send me a text this morning.
I love you, Alicia and Daniel, for your heart to care for us and give back, for your willingness to get on your knees and serve us as you laid stone upon stone creating a work of beauty.
I am grateful for Elizabeth and Charlie’s Chattanooga BBQ, your heart to love through nourishment and meals who lavishes Steve and I with dinner upon dinner.
I am grateful for all the women that study God’s word with me, and I love you, Nancy. You shared the jewel of God’s presence and the power of the Holy Spirit to breath words of life over one another. I am a thing of beauty, shining brightly... because you lead me to Christ, to the heart of love and sacrifice.... Because you see Him in me.
I am grateful God has poured out his love for me through my friends, my neighbors, my family, my amazing cousins and aunts, and my husband—he is a gift. Today, I thank you for the handwritten notes and cards, the meals, the surprises left on our porch and in our mailbox, the affirming words. Today I thank you for encouraging me with your heart and your gifts... big and small.
In the beginning was the the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. In the beginning...Then, God said “let there be light.”
And, yes, there is light... as my doctors have shared, I have plateaued, which is an anomaly for a progressive disease. But never an anomaly for God—He is the miracle-maker, the healer, the great physician. I am grateful for your healing prayers and the power and time for those who continue to pray with and for me.
So, be the light today as you say grace over your meal, take time to love with your words.
Have a hope-filled and happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Victoria