I’ve been sitting with my emotions today. I woke up early for a Sunday morning, but my heart is filled with so much joy.
Today I celebrate the miracle of my daughter. I still find it hard to believe that 14 years have already flown by since I was told that I was having an emergency C-section because my baby‘s life was in danger. Born at 31 weeks, 26 days in the NICU, my mom sprouting wings and making it to the hospital in time, but also having backup if she did not make it. My heart is so full and overwhelmed with joy.
As I’ve had the privilege to watch her grow these years, Jeremiah 29:11-12 come to mind: ‘’For, I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope in the future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
As I was notified that they were prepping the OR, knowing that she was going to be so early I had one prayer, ‘Lord, please make her lungs be developed’. When she came out screaming at the top of her lungs, I cried, knowing that my prayer had been answered. And even though she spent 26 days in the hospital, it was so that she could grow fully while getting the help she needed. So today, I pause to reflect and shed a few tears of gratitude, thanking God for what He has done and allowed.
Today, would you help me to wish my sweet girl a happy birthday?
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that you chose to answer this prayer in this way. Thank you for the gift of my child. Father, would you be with her, protect her and provide for her in all the ways that she needs amen.
Ps. If you want to read my ‘traditional’ message. I wrote this for my church yesterday.
The Power of the Tongue
This week as I was doing something for my daughter, something happened and I jokingly said something to her. Her response was soft, but clear: please don’t say that. I quickly apologized because I knew I was wrong. while it was meant to be a joke, it really was not funny nor was it funny to her.
In that moment, I realized that I was also inadvertently speaking negatively over her. Which, if you know me, I try my very best not to speak negatively, especially as I’m speaking over her life.
I guess it should not have come as a surprise when I started my new devotion this morning and the verse that accompanies the first day is proverbs 18:21 which states ‘the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruits.’
I had almost forgotten about the incident during the week, but this verse brought me right back to it and this is why I want to share it with you today
How many times do we say things in a manner that is meant to be a joke but the other person does not receive it as such. How do we respond when they tell us that we’ve offended them?
In typical Jamaican or Caribbean form do we just tell them it was a joke and they should lighten up or do we take their concerns seriously?
Often times we do not know all of the backstory of someone’s experiences. So something that we may say in jest, it might be something that someone may struggle with and are learning to work through, and our joke is potentially harmful to them.
I won’t ask you to raise your hand, but have you ever pushed yourself to go somewhere because you are having a rough day and someone says something, that literally makes you want to leave instantly?
If confronted, the person might say they didn’t mean anything by it. However, that is not the issue. Did we stop to consider the potential impact of our words on the recipient?
Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
Friends, the next time you are about to say something, would you taste your words? Is it salty? Is it sweet? Is it cutting? We can’t always know how someone will receive the words that we say but as we are about to speak, would we slow down, allow it to filter through our brains before it comes through our mouth so that the words that we share are kind to others.