LIFE-GIVING WORDS

     Words that give life are often not easy to find, but they're out there; and for the sake of the deepest parts of our beings, they must be found.  They are the food for our souls that we desperately need!  Although we may deliver beautiful words of life to our families each day, we also need to receive them, don't we?

     But what if we're not receiving life-giving words back in the measure our hearts seem to call out for?

     Each day is different; one morning your preschooler may snuggle in and whisper, "Mommy, I love you so much I want to marry you," and we'll find the meter rise on our life-giving word tank.  But less than 12 hours may pass before our ears hear our older child stomp out of the room, saying, "Mom, you're just not fair - I wish I didn't live here," and we watch the same meter dangerously plummet near empty.

     How are we, as moms, supposed to stay fed on life-giving words when there isn't any way we can predict the next words that will flow from our husband's, friend's or children's mouths?

     First, we treasure each loving word that is shared and tuck them away safely in our hearts.

     Second, we ask God to help us calmly release each negative word that is thrown at us and quickly forgive the offender from our hearts.

     Third, we do our best to find safe places where life-giving words flow that we may have a source outside those who may be draining our tanks on a regular basis.

     Fourth - and most importantly - we go to THE SOURCE of all life, Jesus Christ.  Not just when we're low, but daily, regardless of where our meters are at.  Isaiah 55 calls out to us, when it says...
     "All who are thirsty, come to the water...buy without money-everything's free!
      Why do you spend your money on junk food...fill yourself with only the finest.
      Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my LIFE-GIVING, life-nourishing words.
      I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you...
      You'll go out with joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life."


     There's only one source where we can be guaranteed to find LIFE -- we must plunge ourselves into the words of God and let it speak to the places deep inside that hurt, ache and are withered.  Only our Creator can bring the lasting, LIFE-GIVING words that we need to hear, so that we may be found complete and whole, not lacking any good thing.

"Lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack NO good thing."

Psalm 34:10