When I went to the store earlier this month my heart broke. I overheard a woman in line call a young girl a “loser”. She said she was “good for nothing”. I have no idea the context of their disagreement, or even their relationship, but her words stung my heart and made me think.
What I do know for sure is that nobody is “good for nothing”. As a matter of fact, I believe we are all born fully equipped with a power that is within us to do amazing things. No matter what our situation or circumstances, we are all complete, whole, capable, magnificently made human beings, and every single one of us is “good for something”.
I smiled and made eye contact with them both, and I looked at each of them through the lens of love praying that the woman’s words wouldn’t create a jar around the young girl’s potential, or become a label that she would wear unknowingly. I’m sure the woman didn’t intend for it to become such a thing, but it’s important to know just how powerful the words we speak to each other are, whether we know one another or we are just strangers bumping heads at the store. I also prayed for my own words to be watched over and chosen with care.
The topic keeps coming up, and so I had to write about it. Just recently, a dear friend of mine {the founder and visionary for Enchanted Makeovers Terry Grahl} posted this quote on Facebook ~
“If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.” ~ Barbara Bush
We can speak life into one another or we can speak limitation. We live up to labels {or expectations} we hold for ourselves, no matter how high or low. I say let’s set the bar high for ourselves {and others} so we can all soar, live boldly, and carry out the work we were created for while we are given this gift of life.
And, if we can treat each other with kindness, hold each other up in our highest regard, we are fulfilling our purpose to simply “love one another” {John 13:34}.
Jennifer Tuma-Young is a writer, speaker, dreamer, foodie, believer, wife, mother, and inspired girl. She is also the Founder & CEO of INSPIRISTA life design company* and author of the 288 Page Balance Book, “Balance Your Life, Balance the Scale”… Check out her personal blog at http://inspiredgirl.net
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