"Appreciation 

can make a day,

even change a life.

Your willingness to put it into words

is all that is necessary." 

(Margaret Cousins)

There is a true story about a teacher who had asked her students to write something (just one thing) they appreciated about each student in their class. After she collected all the encouraging words, she gave each student a list of the the things their classmates admired about them. It was an excellent exercise in positive reinforcement, respect and admiration, and many lives were encouraged and even changed as a result.

 As years passed, one of the students had served and died in Vietnam. Found tucked inside his wallet was a weathered piece of paper...yes, the list! One of his prized possessions, it travelled with him through the years, through the war, through life and death.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak,

but their echoes are truly endless"

(Mother Teresa)

Sometimes we become weary, discouraged, worn out from working hard, or just plain fatigued. Then, someone out of the blue compliments us or shows us appreciation in some way, encouraging us and making us feel valued. Our efforts suddenly feel worthwhile...they haven't gone un-noticed.

There are plenty of situations in life, both serious and not so serious when we could benefit from a kind word.

"Gracious words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24)

Whatever we are going through might not be as powerful as the story of the soldier or the classroom filled with changed lives, but every life is important...every word has meaning...and the words we speak (a reflection of our hearts) do make an impact.

 

MAY YOUR WORDS

BE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

TO SOMEONE... ANYONE...

MAYBE EVEN TODAY!