Each day during The PURSE-onality Challenge: "A Holiday-Ready Heart" in October, Untangling Christmas by Karen Ehman and LeAnn Rice, will be our give-away prize!
Day 14: TRUST (+ How Each PURSE-onality Can Get Day Overwhelmed)
Day 15: PATIENT (+ Practicing Now for Patience Then)
Day 16: NO RECORD (+ How to Have Grudge-Free Holidays)
Day 17: TRUTH (Each PURSE-onality's Take on Truth)
Day 18: PERSEVERE (+2 Cures for Procrastination)
Day 19: BLESS (Your Feelings Can Help You Choose)
Day 15: PATIENT (+ Practicing Now for Patience Then)
Day 16: NO RECORD (+ How to Have Grudge-Free Holidays)
Day 17: TRUTH (Each PURSE-onality's Take on Truth)
Day 18: PERSEVERE (+2 Cures for Procrastination)
Day 19: BLESS (Your Feelings Can Help You Choose)
When I was little, my father always used to say to me, "Thank you for choosing me to be your Daddy."
I always replied, "Daaaaa-deeee..." because, of course, he made NO sense.
But I love it to this day when he says it!
Oh, the power of the words that come out of our mouths!
Only What is Helpful
This is a tall order.
If the words coming out of my mouth are going to be “only...helpful” during the holidays, I have got to be practicing now.
Since my mind often goes blank right when I need just the right words, here are some ideas for practicing “only what is helpful” words.
Building Others Up
When I survey women prior to speaking at a retreats, 60% or more say they love hearing (or would love to hear):
- You are a blessing in my life.
- I/we appreciate you.
- I see God working in you and through you.
- What would I/we ever do without you?
- I/we need you.
- I am so glad you are my _______. (daughter, wife, mother, etc.)
- You are gifted. / You are talented.
- I love listening to you.
- You can do it!
- You mean the world to me.
- You’re made such a difference in my life.
According to Their Needs
These particular affirmations receive about 40% votes, probably because they are PURSE-onality specific:
- You are so much fun! (Sanguine)
- You are such a good organizer / planner. (Melancholy)
- You are such a good leader. (Choleric)
- You are such a peaceful person to be with. (Phlegmatic)
Benefit Those Who Listen
I asked my friends on Facebook to share words that have built them up. Here are some responses:
- Of course, it so nice when people tell us that they appreciate us or recognize when we are working hard....expressions of gratitude go a long way. I think that when loved ones also quote God's word and encourage me with scripture, it is truly affirming and uplifting.
- This morning I wrote an email to my husband because I was overwhelmed with homeschooling and asked if I could purchase something (I rarely spend money) and he wrote "I support you!" I started crying because I needed just that!
- "You communicated that very well," or, "you're very articulate."
- You are more than capable.
- I love your ideas!
- "Remember, you are weak, but HE IS STRONG!" I've been repeating this to myself over and over all week…
- "Would you just listen?" Said in a frustrated tone, but they were words I needed to hear. I've tried to remember that lesson.
- My child you worry too much. I've got this....love God.
- Romans 8:28 is my blessed assurance verse.
- When I get down on myself, which is often, my husband always gets this sad little boy look on his face and says, "But...you're my sweetie!" Now, I imagine Jesus saying the same thing to me.
- Believe it or not these words: "Gina, everything that happens to you is not about you" by the pastor of ed/admin that I reported to when I was going through a season of uncertainty. Sometimes we experience things that God uses to do a work in someone else, like our spouses, etc.
- Rom.8:28 (reminding myself that even though I may not understand that truth now, it will be true at the end)
- Just this week someone said to me, "No matter how crummy a day I've had, you can always make me smile--then make it into a laugh! How do you do that? Never mind, I just love that you do." That just made me "Tickled Pink"!
- I go back to "Search from Significance," by Robert S. McGee, which I first studied in 1990. "I have great worth apart from my performance, my appearance or what others think of me. Because God sees me thru Christ's shed blood, I am fully pleasing, totally accepted and unconditionally loved." This has gotten me thru many, many tough seasons!
- Knowing that Jesus wept. He felt grief & heartache, too, even though He knew the master plan and that all was going to be okay. It's okay to cry.
Your Turn:
- What words have built you up? With whom can you share these same helpful, beneficial words?
- Which words above do you find especially powerful? To whom can you say them today?
- Anything else on your heart!