I enjoyed my weekend retreat experience, honored to lead main sessions for a group of women from Quincy, Illinois. Presenting at retreats is a treat to me. As I prepare and lead, I’m challenged…by the content I prepare, words I speak, and questions women ask. But there’s a sadness as a retreat comes to an end. Of course, I’m always ready to return home to my family, but as I finish up the final session, I realize I might never see these women again. I won’t know if what I’ve said has had an impact. I won’t know how each woman is doing as she continues her journey. I’ve listened to stories and learned names and personalities, but there comes a time I must pack my bag and move on.

As I listened to women share their “a-ha” experiences from the weekend, challenges God is giving them, and “next steps” for the coming days, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and awe of how God can take a few meager words I share and use them to encourage and challenge a woman. Pouring into women is a heartsong to me. I give a lot of myself to build up others. And it humbles me. There is power in words, and miscommunication is easier than effective communication. I have no fear of speaking in front of others…but my knees quake when I consider the power my words might have on others.

Words can honor or degrade, build or demolish, encourage or frustrate. Words have power, but I’m reminded…

Words only have the power God allows them to have. If I’m being obedient in my words – and actions – God will bless my efforts even when there’s a misunderstanding. If something I say is misunderstood, God can work in the other person as they struggle with the truth of what they think I’ve said. God can work in me to realize how my words could be misconstrued, or in his grace, he might decide revealing the misunderstanding to me isn’t essential.

Instead of doing my best, I strive to do his best, reflecting the person he created me to be and is molding me into instead of the person I’ll easily atrophy into on my own. I want to be an offering.

Do I choose to love? Do I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy…

 

And to my new friends in Quincy…keep peering over God’s shoulder to see the reflection of the woman he created you to be. He’s crazy about you!