words work like a ladder

What is it about fun words that make people especially children light up?
Fantastico!
Fabulous!
WOOHOO!
Of course, the mere fact that they are words of encouragement and praise would make anyone smile. But for children they hold so much more. They learn that these words are a pure form of love and affection. At a young age, words have such a power as they develop their vocabulary. I think there’s a crazy statistic that says kids know most of the words they’ll use in life by the time they reach kindergarten. YIKES! So what a treat it is to be a part of a team that uses positive words to instruct, praise and love kids. It’s these words that will stick with them, words that they will repeat so others and words that can and will bring them out of a situation of failure to one of success.

How easy for us to say good, uplifting words to adorable kids? How easy for us to say them even to people we like? For some, good words are always on their lips with genuine affection behind each syllable. That’s my personal challenge over the next week. To speak intentionally with positive, life-giving words. If they are in my mouth, then they will be in my head and heart where the power of words can have as much affect on me as they have on that of the hearer.

“The words of the thoughtless are like swords, but the words of the wise bring healing. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Prov. 12:18, 25

Yippee!