Lessons From the Edge

What you do and say today matters.

I was talking with the daughter of one of our residents this week. She was sharing some difficulties she has with one of her brothers and I was taken back by the anguish in her tone of voice.
As she was wrapping up her complaint she said, "Well, that's what happens with a mother treats her son like..." Though she didn't share any details, I could hear the pain in her heart. Hurts which stem from 50 or more years ago, and seem to still be growing today.
To hear this woman's mother talk, you would think they lived a perfect life. I know she loves her children. She speaks freely about how she enjoyed being a mother. But somewhere along the way, something went wrong. Something injured her daughter, and the wound is still festering. I don't believe for one second that L intentionally said or did anything which would harm her children or cause lasting pain. But, clearly, something went wrong.
And, although I felt powerless to do anything to help, I felt empowered by the lesson I was learning: to be intentional about the things I do and say, that they may make a positive impact and have a lasting influence on the lives of those around me. Especially my children.

Are you tracking with me? I imagine you are just like me in this regard - not wanting to wound another person with careless words or actions. So, let us resolve together to live intentionally, on purpose, making every effort to build up and encourage the people God has put into our lives. Let's make their tomorrow wonderful by our behavior today.

What you do and say today matters.