We are only 4 days in, but it is a trip I doubt we will soon
forget. On Friday, after school, my mom,
my sister, (a), and I took off to head to Louisiana to visit my grandparents
for Spring Break. My other sister met us
there along with my Aunt & Uncle. I will admit, I was prepared that
13 hours each way in the car with a toddler was risky business, but it was also
guaranteed to be memorable. So, I did
what any mom would do…. I started a list of hilarious things that were
said!
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| Photo credit: Aunt Kara |
Conversations
between Aunt Kayda & (a):
K- “You wanna go to the swamp?”
(a)- “I wanna go to Wal-Mart!”
K- “What does the gecko say?”
(a)- “Say eat my cookies!!”
K- “When we walk in Granny and Grandpa’s house what are
you going to say?”
(a)- “Happy Birthday!”
K- “What do monkeys eat?”
(a)- “Poop!”
Statements made
by (a):
“I walk in the door- see cows!!”
“Let’s go! Hurry!!”
“Momma! It’s a GIRL!” (While watching a cute little
girl a bit younger than him eating dinner)
“Matchy, matchy!” (After giving Kayda a hat and glasses
like he was wearing)
Statements made
by Aunt Kayda (who is young and does not have children):
“Why am I wet?!”
“Why am I sticky!!???”
“There is a HORSE tangled in my hair!!”
New phrases learned
in the car:
“Hello, mate!”
“Hosanna, mate!” (both “mate” phrases spoken with an
Australian accent)
"Peace out, Dude!"
I’m sure there will be plenty of other phrases recorded
before the week is over, but I also know this… I won’t have to write some of
them down for them to be remembered. I
know that even when he is 18, some of (a)’s funny remarks from this week will
be repeated and retold over and over to him.
I don’t know if that is how it works in all families, but in mine, iconic
phrases that come from your mouth follow you around for the rest of your life.
In reality however, I believe that is true of many of the
words we speak. Whether we realize it or
not, words that come out of our mouths can follow us, or someone else, around
for the rest of our lives. Words
matter. I’m blessed, there were a lot of
words spoken to me over the years that stuck with me in a good way.
“I love you”
“You’ve got this kiddo!”
“There’s my blue-eyed girl!”
“Never say never”
“Anything worth having takes hard work”
But there have been other words over the years that have
also stuck with me. Words that were
meant to patronize me after a crushing heartbreak or defeat. Words that were meant to sting and “put me in
my place.” Words about my weight. Words about how I wasn’t doing a good enough
job in this or that based on one person’s totally subjective opinion. Those words have followed me too. And some of them took me YEARS to overcome or
quit believing. Words matter.
On the flip side, I have had women stop me and share
something I said in a conference or speaking engagement that has stuck with
them for years. And unfortunately, I’m
sure there have been hurtful or harsh things that I have said to others over
the years that have stuck with them as well.
If that has been the case, I am truly sorry. Words matter.
So often they are quick to come out of our mouths, and
many times we don’t even remember saying them.
But the person who received them remembers… both the good and the
bad. Words matter.
My prayer is that I am intentional with the words I
use. That they would be used to speak
love, hope, truth, faith, encouragement, edification, and show God’s grace and
faithfulness. And on the days when I
fail, I pray that I am mindful of the failure and have the opportunity for
another chance to speak words that can make it right. What we say follows us around. Words matter.
And now, I’m going to go back to the giggling in the
living room & sharing words with my family that matter. This week, my heart (and my Granny’s house)
are both very full. May it be week full
of words that matter in your life too.
“The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
“Let the words of my mouth, and the
meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my
Redeemer” Psalms 19:14
So fun to enjoy part of your trip with you and (a)and the message is so true about what words can do
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